Once known as the "Queen City of the Republic of Texas," Jefferson is a small, historic village in northeast Texas, near Shreveport, Louisiana. A pleasant 3-hour drive through verdant piney woods from the Dallas / Ft. Worth metroplex. Established in 1845, Jefferson was a bustling steamboat destination, upriver from New Orleans. Regularly, the Mittie Stephens and other Steamboats navigated the Mississippi and Red Rivers, through ancient Caddo Lake, continuing upstream on Big Cypress Bayou to dock at Jefferson – where covered wagons were outfitted for traveling westward to Dallas and beyond.

Today, Jefferson is experiencing a renaissance of culture, art and tourism. Outstanding museums, a variety of antique shops, over 50 Bed and Breakfasts, and fine restaurants beckon visitors. Only barely discovered, visitors to Jefferson stroll the brick streets, enjoy horse-drawn carriages, navigate the fabled waters of Cypress Bayou – and take steamboat excursions on nearby Caddo Lake, the only natural lake in Texas. Lady Bird Johnson grew up here, has contributed much to the town's renaissance and still visits local friends and relatives. Annual festivals are popular events; but, most people enjoy the quieter times – and return again and again – to continue the romantic adventure.

Most of the stately homes and Victorian cottages in Jefferson have been restored – and, many are open as Bed and Breakfast Inns, offering a variety of venues and experiences. Because historic preservation has been so successful – with a B&B emphasis – the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas on January 29, 1997 declared Jefferson to be the "Bed and Breakfast Capital of East Texas". Each Bed and Breakfast is unique, varying from luxury, full-service inns to a spare room over the carriage house. To help visitors separate the "choice" Bed and Breakfast Inns from "ordinary" guest houses, a quality control program called "Classic Bed and Breakfast Inns" was developed.