Sam Bell Maxey was a Mexican War veteran, former Confederate general, and future U.S. Senator when his family moved into their fashionable, newly built home on the south side of Paris in 1868. In this home, the Maxey family navigated the political and social landscape from Reconstruction Era Texas through the start of the First World War. The home’s newly restored interiors showcase original family furnishings, clothing, and letters. These give insight into the lives of the three generations of the family that bore witness to Reconstruction’s challenging legacy.
Hours
Tuesday to Sunday
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Closed Noon to 1 p.m on Sunday
Guided Tours at the top of the hour
Tickets
Adult $5
Senior/Veteran/Teacher/First Responder $3
Child (6-17) $2
Child (5 and under) Free
Family (2 adults & 1 child) $8, each additional child $1
Programs
Public Tours
Special Events
School Programs
See the site
Plan Your Visit
Visitors are guided through the Victorian home of the Maxey and Long families, which interprets how an upper-middle-class family lived in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
Sam Bell Maxey House History
Samuel Bell Maxey was born on March 30, 1825 to Rice and Lucetta Pope Bell Maxey in Tompkinsville, Kentucky.
Events at Sam Bell Maxey House
Vintage Valentines
Saturday 10 a.m. - 11 a.m.Join the Sam Bell Maxey House to create your own vintage-style valentines and learn about the origins of valentines in the U.S.!
Vintage Valentines
Saturday 2 p.m. - 3 p.m.Join the Sam Bell Maxey House to create your own vintage-style valentines and learn about the origins of valentines in the U.S.!
Romance in the Gilded Age
Friday 4 p.m. - 5 p.m.Join us on February 14 at 4:00 pm for Romance in the Gilded Age. The program will include a tour of the Maxey House and feature love letters from the family, the language of flower arrangements, and historic valentines.
Sam Bell Maxey House in the Blog
Historic Road Trip: Denison to Clarksville
Settled by Native Americans, conquered by Spaniards, then included as part of Mexico, this region is rich with history and culture. This part of North Texas was also home to several legendary Texans, including Dwight D. Eisenhower, Sam Rayburn, and Sam Bell Maxey—their stories are each told at a Texas Historical Commission state historic site in the area.
Support Our Historic Sites
Make a gift to the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization dedicated to supporting the historic sites of the THC.
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