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U.S. Highway 290 - Texas
US 290 begins in the Hill Country at IH-10 southeast of Junction. The road branches off and travels east to Fredricksburg, a center of German culture in the Hill Country. Continuing east, we find Johnson City, named for former President Lyndon B. Johnson's forefathers. LBJ National Historical Park is located in Johnson City, where US 281 crosses US 290. Continuing east, US 290 reaches Austin to travel north through the city.
Leaving Austin, US 290 reaches Elgin, originally a townsite on the Houston and Texas Central railroad but now known as the "Sausage Capital of Texas". Leaving Hill Country, US 290 will follow the old rail line all the way to Houston, passing through Giddings (another rail town) before reaching Brenham. Brenham is famous for Blue Bell Ice Cream, a Texas original and some of the best ice cream to be found in the country (most Texans will say it IS the best in the country).
Leaving Brenham, US 290 passes Hempstead, one of the most notoriously violent towns in Texas before 1905, when US Congressman John Pinckney was shot inside the county courthouse. Today, Hempstead is a ranching and farming center. SH 6 meets US 290 in Hempstead, with the two roads co-signed until US 290 reaches FM 1960 in Houston.
Southeast of Hempstead, US 290 becomes a freeway to serve the Northwest suburbs of Houston. US 290 ends at IH-610 on the Northwest side of downtown, just north of the IH-10/IH-610 west interchange. The Northwest freeway is unremarkable, and simply fulfills its role as a commuter freeway.
From 1927 to 1992, US 290 began at what is now the IH-10/IH-20 split near Kent. US 290 followed the route of present-day IH-10 through Fort Stockton, Sheffield, Ozona, Sonora and Junction to the split between IH-10 and US 290. A portion of this road is signed as SH 290 through Sheffield today.
U.S. Highway 290 Texas Guides
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