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.

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Location

812 South Church St. 
Paris, TX 75460 
903-785-5716 
Contact us
See map

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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 

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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

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Programs

Public Tours  
Special Events  
School Programs

Den inside the Sam Bell Maxey House

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.

Parlor inside the Sam Bell Maxey House

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

Photo of children picking up Easter eggs scattered on green grass with adults standing in the background watching.

Easter Egg Scramble (Morning)

Join the Sam Bell Maxey House for Easter activities at the site during the Easter Egg Scramble, including an egg hunt, or “scramble”, on the grounds followed by Easter-themed crafts and yard games. 

Photo of children picking up Easter eggs scattered on green grass with adults standing in the background watching.

Easter Egg Scramble (Afternoon)

Join the Sam Bell Maxey House for Easter activities at the site during the Easter Egg Scramble, including an egg hunt, or “scramble”, on the grounds followed by Easter-themed crafts and yard games. 

Sepia photo of six women in late 19th century clothing: three sitting on a bench and three standing behind the bench.

Specialized Tour: Ladies Fashion (Morning)

Join the Maxey House for specialized tours concentrating on the ladies fashion from the Victorian era to WWI. A short program will be given followed by a tour of the house and examples of ladies fashion from the Maxey House collection.

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.