The Railroad Commission of Texas (RCT) authorized Tower 3 on October 9, 1902 to protect the crossing of the Galveston, Harrisburg and San Antonio (GH&SA) Railway (east-west) & San Antonio & Aransas Pass (SA&AP) Railway (north-south). Decommissioned in 1996. The tower which originally sat across from the depot was moved into the historic town center (a National Historic District) and positioned directly by the GH&SA tracks (now Union Pacific). Today it has been restored to original condition (owned by the E.A. Arnim Archives & Museum of Flatonia). On weekends visitors can take a guided tour the tower. A railfan pavilion has been built near the site where Tower 3 originally stood. Here, railfans can watch trains on the main U.P east-west line and the Dallas cut-off.
