Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site

Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site Sam Bell Maxey was a Mexican War veteran, a former Confederate general, and future U.S. Self-guided tours are available anytime between 10:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m.

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 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. Guided tours are given on the hour at 10:00 a.m., and 2:00 p.m., Tuesday through Sunday. Tuesday through Sunday. CONTENT GUIDELINES

We support the free exchange of ideas on this official page of the Maxey House. However, we moderate this page and we reserve the right to remove comments, posts, photos, or any content at our discretion that we deem to be obscene, indecent, profane, or otherwise objectionable, contains hate speech, spam, or if it does not contribute to the discussion that is happening. The views expressed in comment fields reflect those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the official views of the Maxey House, the Texas Historical Commission or the Texas state government.

Today is ! To celebrate, please enjoy these wedding dresses worn by some of the women of the Maxey House.1) Dora Rowell...
06/01/2026

Today is ! To celebrate, please enjoy these wedding dresses worn by some of the women of the Maxey House.

1) Dora Rowell Maxey married Henry Lightfoot on November 3, 1874. That day was also Dora's eighteenth birthday.
2) Lala Williams married Sam Bell Maxey Long on December 12, 1894. Lala, of course, is the woman with the veil. Sam and Lala went to Florida for their honeymoon.
3) Elgie Crook, Lala’s cousin, married Guy Fairfax in 1900. The photo was taken on the Maxey House stairs.

Photos 2 and 3 are courtesy of Texas State Library and Archives Commission

Maxey House educator Elana will be at the Texas Homeschool Expo this Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6. We hope to see s...
05/31/2026

Maxey House educator Elana will be at the Texas Homeschool Expo this Friday and Saturday, June 5 and 6. We hope to see some of our homeschool friends there!

Celebrate Father’s Day with a little friendly competition and a lot of fun at the Sam Bell Maxey House. Dads and their f...
05/31/2026

Celebrate Father’s Day with a little friendly competition and a lot of fun at the Sam Bell Maxey House. Dads and their favorite sidekicks are invited for an afternoon of hands-on catapult building, mystery-solving clues, and tasty snacks.

Bring your dad, granddad, uncle, big brother, or any special grown-up and get ready to launch into fun together.

Date: Saturday, June 20
Time: 2:00 to 4:00 pm (come and go)
Fee: $3 per person
Register here: https://forms.gle/eT1PQz625vaNEWD87

Visit a THC state historic site from Memorial Day through Labor Day, snap a photo, and enter for a chance to win. One ph...
05/28/2026

Visit a THC state historic site from Memorial Day through Labor Day, snap a photo, and enter for a chance to win. One photo per entry, with multiple drawings throughout the summer. Visit more sites to increase your chances. Learn more and enter: https://bit.ly/snapshot2026

At first glance, BURIED ALIVE sounds grim, but Arnold Bennett’s 1908 novel is actually a comedy. The title works on two ...
05/27/2026

At first glance, BURIED ALIVE sounds grim, but Arnold Bennett’s 1908 novel is actually a comedy. The title works on two levels: a reclusive artist is mistakenly declared dead, while also capturing the feeling of being “buried” under social expectations.

That theme makes it a perfect fit for the parlor at the Maxey House, where our copy is displayed.

When the home was built in 1868, this area was divided into two distinct spaces:
• Men’s parlor: business conversations, reading, and receiving male guests
• Women’s parlor: needlework, letter writing, and social visits

In 1911, Sam and Lala Long combined the two rooms into one, reflecting changing norms around mixed gatherings.

The connection deepens with another item in our collection: a playbill from MILESTONES (1912), adapted from Bennett’s work. The play follows three generations navigating social change, much like this space itself.

A few fun details:
• This copy of BURIED ALIVE appears to be a later rebinding
• Bennett wrote 34 novels and 13 plays
• Victorian families relied on etiquette manuals to guide everyday behavior
• Formal parlors were major status symbols

Come see how literature and lived experience meet in this space.

We would like to wish everyone a very peaceful Memorial Day. Today we thank and remember all those who have given the ul...
05/25/2026

We would like to wish everyone a very peaceful Memorial Day. Today we thank and remember all those who have given the ultimate sacrifice.

Sam Bell Maxey Long received this letter in 1922 from Marcelle, a child that he and his wife sponsored through the organization called The Fatherless Children of France. The Fatherless Children of France was created to help support those children who lost their fathers during World War I.

The letter reads:

"My beloved god Father,

We all remember in France the sons of valiant America who coming from so far across the ocean died as heroes by our Father's side for the sake of Justice and Liberty.

Their tombs were covered with flowers to day and our thoughts remain for ever mingled with theirs in the same ideal of Love and Brotherhood.

Your loving god-Child, Marcelle Minos"

There are just a few spots left for Little Sprouts: Nature Adventures with the Maxey House!Little Sprouts is a month-lon...
05/22/2026

There are just a few spots left for Little Sprouts: Nature Adventures with the Maxey House!

Little Sprouts is a month-long summer program designed to help young learners explore nature through hands-on activities inspired by the historic grounds of the Sam Bell Maxey House. Meeting weekly on Thursdays in June, this program encourages curiosity, creativity, and outdoor exploration through gardening, nature walks, and simple Victorian-era practices.

Each week features a new nature-themed adventure, blending sensory learning, crafts, and history in an age-appropriate and engaging way. Participants will explore local habitats, discover historic gardens, learn about plants and helpful garden creatures, and experiment with natural dyes, just like children might have done in the past.

Ages: 5 to 13
Fee: $7 per class or $20 for all
Program Schedule: Thursdays in June at 2:00 pm
▪️June 4 - Trail Trekkers: Habitat Hike on the Trail de Paris
▪️June 11 - Flower Garden Day: Victorian Blooms
▪️June 18 - Vegetable Garden Day
▪️June 25 - Dye It Like the Victorians (with special guest Amy from Mission Delores State Historic Site!)

Registration is required: https://forms.gle/FPrev8oLzBQuPRpY6

We celebrated Mother’s Day last Saturday with a delightful Mommy and Me Paint Party! Moms and daughters enjoyed spending...
05/21/2026

We celebrated Mother’s Day last Saturday with a delightful Mommy and Me Paint Party! Moms and daughters enjoyed spending quality time together, starting with cookies and lemonade generously provided by our wonderful Friends of the Sam Bell Maxey House, followed by a fun questionnaire activity.

The highlight of the event was creating a charming heart painting set. It was so much fun to watch each group bring their own creativity to life as they added unique touches and personal flair to their artwork. Every painting turned out beautifully special, just like the memories made that day.

One mommy and daughter duo who joined us this year also attended our Mother’s Day event two years ago when the daughter was just two years old. Look how much she’s grown! We love seeing our community members return for special events each year.

Happy from the Sam Bell Maxey House! Museums are more than historic buildings. They are storytellers, timekeepers, and...
05/18/2026

Happy from the Sam Bell Maxey House!

Museums are more than historic buildings. They are storytellers, timekeepers, and community spaces that connect us to the people and moments that shaped our world.

Today, we celebrate the power of history to inspire, educate, and bring us together. From the lives lived within these walls in the 1800s to the visitors who walk through today, the Maxey House continues to share stories that matter.

Whether you’ve toured with us before or are planning your first visit, we invite you to step into the past and discover the stories waiting here.

Tell us: What’s your favorite memory from visiting a museum?

Last Wednesday was our Homeschool Day! We had a great time with everyone who joined us despite the rainy weather. We can...
05/17/2026

Last Wednesday was our Homeschool Day! We had a great time with everyone who joined us despite the rainy weather. We can't wait for next year!

Address

812 S Church Street
Paris, TX
75460

Opening Hours

Tuesday 10am - 4pm
Wednesday 10am - 4pm
Thursday 10am - 4pm
Friday 10am - 4pm
Saturday 10am - 4pm
Sunday 10am - 12pm
1pm - 4pm

Telephone

+19037855716

Website

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