Starr Family Home State Historic Site is a state park in Harrison County, Texas.
Starr Family Home State Historic Site is a 3.1-acre (1.3 ha) historical site operated by the Texas Historical Commission in downtown Marshall, Texas. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The museum was made a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1986. On January 1, 2008, the site was transferred from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the Texas Historical Commission.From the Wikipedia article “Starr Family Home State Historic Site”, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Sunrise & sunset directions
At Starr Family Home State Historic Site the sunrise point swings a long way through the year: about 61° (ENE) at the June solstice and 118° (ESE) in late December. Sunset moves from 299° (WNW) in June to 243° (WSW) in December, and the midday sun climbs to 81° in summer but only 34° in winter.
| Date | Sunrise | Azimuth | Sunset | Azimuth | Noon sun | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| March equinox (Mar 20) | 7:22 AM | 90° E | 7:29 PM | 271° W | 57° | 12h 07m |
| June solstice (Jun 21) | 6:11 AM | 61° ENE | 8:29 PM | 299° WNW | 81° | 14h 17m |
| September equinox (Sep 22) | 7:06 AM | 89° E | 7:16 PM | 271° W | 58° | 12h 09m |
| December solstice (Dec 21) | 7:16 AM | 118° ESE | 5:17 PM | 243° WSW | 34° | 10h 00m |
Azimuth is measured clockwise from true north (90° = east, 270° = west). Computed for 2026; values change by less than a degree from year to year.
Golden hour & blue hour by month
State parks often protect a signature feature — a gorge, lake or overlook — that is best in early morning before visitors and harsh light arrive.
| Month (15th) | Blue hour starts | Sunrise | Golden hour ends | Golden hour starts | Sunset | Blue hour ends | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | 6:54 AM | 7:20 AM | 7:57 AM | 4:58 PM | 5:35 PM | 6:01 PM | 10h 15m |
| February | 6:36 AM | 7:01 AM | 7:35 AM | 5:30 PM | 6:04 PM | 6:29 PM | 11h 02m |
| March | 7:04 AM | 7:29 AM | 8:01 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:26 PM | 7:50 PM | 11h 57m |
| April | 6:23 AM | 6:49 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:15 PM | 7:47 PM | 8:13 PM | 12h 59m |
| May | 5:53 AM | 6:20 AM | 6:55 AM | 7:35 PM | 8:09 PM | 8:37 PM | 13h 49m |
| June | 5:42 AM | 6:10 AM | 6:47 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:56 PM | 14h 17m |
| July | 5:54 AM | 6:21 AM | 6:57 AM | 7:51 PM | 8:27 PM | 8:55 PM | 14h 05m |
| August | 6:16 AM | 6:42 AM | 7:16 AM | 7:30 PM | 8:04 PM | 8:30 PM | 13h 22m |
| September | 6:37 AM | 7:02 AM | 7:34 AM | 6:53 PM | 7:25 PM | 7:50 PM | 12h 23m |
| October | 6:57 AM | 7:22 AM | 7:55 AM | 6:13 PM | 6:46 PM | 7:11 PM | 11h 24m |
| November | 6:22 AM | 6:48 AM | 7:24 AM | 4:42 PM | 5:18 PM | 5:44 PM | 10h 30m |
| December | 6:46 AM | 7:13 AM | 7:50 AM | 4:37 PM | 5:14 PM | 5:41 PM | 10h 02m |
Local time (America/Chicago), including daylight saving time. Golden hour runs from about −4° to +6° solar altitude, so the morning golden hour begins during blue hour, before sunrise.
Milky Way & night sky
From Starr Family Home State Historic Site, the Milky Way core is visible in a dark sky from February through October. June gives the longest window (about 6.3 hours on a moonless night), and the core peaks around 29° above the southern horizon. Our light-pollution model puts the sky at about Bortle 6 (bright suburban sky), so expect visible sky glow; drive away from towns for better results.
| Month | Core visible (15th) | Hours | Max altitude | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Below 10° in darkness | — | 1° | — |
| February | 4:46 AM – 5:36 AM | 0.8 | 17° | SE → SE |
| March | 3:57 AM – 5:57 AM | 2.0 | 25° | SE → SSE |
| April | 1:53 AM – 5:13 AM | 3.3 | 28° | SE → S |
| May | 11:53 PM – 4:43 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SE → SSW |
| June | 10:08 PM – 4:28 AM | 6.3 | 29° | SE → SW |
| July | 10:04 PM – 2:54 AM | 4.8 | 29° | SSE → SW |
| August | 9:32 PM – 12:52 AM | 3.3 | 29° | S → SW |
| September | 8:47 PM – 10:57 PM | 2.2 | 25° | SSW → SW |
| October | 8:07 PM – 8:57 PM | 0.8 | 18° | SW → SW |
| November | Below 10° in darkness | — | 3° | — |
| December | Below 10° in darkness | — | -18° | — |
Window when the galactic core is at least 10° high during astronomical darkness on the 15th of each month. Pick nights within a few days of the new moon. Plan exact nights with the Milky Way planner.
Estimated sky darkness: 6 Bortle 6 — Bright suburban sky. The Milky Way is only visible near the zenith; the sky glows grey-orange in photos. Modeled zenith brightness ≈ 19.23 mag/arcsec².
Weather & best season
Long-term NASA satellite data for this area show October as the clearest month (about 40% average cloud cover) and February as the cloudiest (61%). August is the warmest month and January the coldest, which matters for gear, snow access and how long batteries last at night.
Average cloud cover (%)
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High °F | 78 | 81 | 89 | 94 | 102 | 107 | 108 | 113 | 108 | 98 | 88 | 80 |
| Low °F | 13 | 17 | 20 | 30 | 39 | 58 | 63 | 59 | 46 | 33 | 20 | 17 |
| Precip. (in) | 3.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.1 | 4.5 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.0 | 3.5 | 4.4 | 3.6 | 4.4 |
Monthly climatology for the surrounding 1° grid cell from NASA POWER (MERRA-2). Mountain sites can be colder and cloudier than the cell average.
Photography tips for this state park
- Check park hours: many state parks close at dusk, which affects sunset and night shooting.
- Ask rangers about photography permits for commercial work, models or drones.
- Weekday mornings are the least crowded at popular viewpoints.
- Trail maps often mark overlooks — combine them with the sun azimuth to plan.
- Day-use fees or passes are common; buy them online before arriving.
- Scout in daylight if you plan to shoot at night or before sunrise.
Season: Spring wildflowers and autumn color are peak seasons in most parks.
Suggested gear: Versatile zoom lens, Tripod, Park pass. Work out exposures with the depth of field, ND filter and NPF rule calculators.
Permits, drones & access
Drones: Drone rules in state parks vary by state and even by park — many require a permit or ban recreational drone flights. Check the park's rules and the FAA B4UFLY app before flying.
Nearby photo spots
Other locations within 40 km of Starr Family Home State Historic Site, closest first.
State Park
National Wildlife Refuge
LakeCampgrounds nearby (Recreation.gov)
- Buckhorn Creek26 km (16 mi) · reservable
- Lakeside Day Use27 km (17 mi) · reservable
- Brushy Creek27 km (17 mi) · reservable
- Brushy Creek Day Use29 km (18 mi) · reservable
FAQ
When is the best time to photograph Starr Family Home State Historic Site?
What time is golden hour at Starr Family Home State Historic Site?
Where does the sun rise and set at Starr Family Home State Historic Site?
Can you see the Milky Way from Starr Family Home State Historic Site?
Do you need a permit to photograph at Starr Family Home State Historic Site?
How far is Starr Family Home State Historic Site from Marshall?
Sources
Location data: Wikidata, Wikipedia. Sun, moon and Milky Way times are computed by LWPhoto Atlas for 2026. Climate: NASA POWER. Sky darkness is a population-based estimate (Walker's law), not a measurement. See data sources & licenses.