Main Street Program

A walk through downtown Corsicana is a walk through history. The original brick streets blend seamlessly with new neighborhood restaurants, venues for music and theater, antiques, boutiques, and loft living, creating a community all its own. We also invite potential new business owners to experience our vibrant downtown activity for themselves, as well as inquire about our current development incentives.

Designated an official Texas Main Street City in 1985, Corsicana’s Main Street Program supports downtown revitalization through a dual focus on historic preservation and economic development strategies, which boosts the quality of life for residents and tourists alike.

Corsicana Visitor Center

The Corsicana Visitor Center is housed in a beautifully-restored 1895 railroad freight office, now located at the intersection of S. Beaton St. and W. 7th Ave. Stop by 8 a.m. - 5 p.m. during the week and 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. on Saturdays, or check out at www.visitcorsicana.com at your convenience to discover what’s going on in town. If you would like to request a complimentary visitor map by mail, please call toll-free on 877-648-2688.

Corsicana was established in 1848 to serve as the seat of government for Navarro County, which had been created to years previously by the first Texas Legislature. When asked what the new town should be called, Texas patriot and county namesake Jose Antonio Navarro replied, "Call it Corsicana after the island of Corsica, the birthplace of my father."

In 1894, oil was accidentally discovered just a few blocks from Corsicana’s business district as drillers were completing an artesian well to expand the city’s water supply. Within six years, 500 wells operating within the city limits were producing 800,000 barrels of crude annually, making Corsicana the site of the first commercial oilfield in Texas. Today, our nearly 25,000 residents take great pride in their rich history.