Q: Is Sam Bell Maxey House a Texas State Park and do you accept the State Park Pass or Parklands Passport?
A: No, effective January 1, 2008, Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site was transferred to the Texas Historical Commission (THC) from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) and is no longer considered a Texas State Park. The State Park Pass and Parklands Passport are statewide passes for parks operated by TPWD. Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site is managed by the THC. Find out more about Sam Bell Maxey House's admission fees on the Hours & Admission page. |
Q: When will the Sam Bell Maxey House be repainted?
A: Preservation is currently under way with the exterior painting expected to occur in 2010.
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Q: When is the Maxey House open and when are tours provided?
A: The Sam Bell Maxey House is open seven days a week except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. Tours are provided daily between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m.
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Q: Do visitors need an appointment to receive a tour?
A: Groups of less than eight people may drop in between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. for a tour. Groups of eight or more will need to make a tour reservation. For more information, visit Groups & Tours. |
Q: How long are the tours?
A: Tours are approximately one hour long.
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Q: What does the admission price include?
A: The admission includes a guided tour of the house and access to the grounds.
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Q: What is the Sam Bell Maxey House?
A: The Sam Bell Maxey House is a house museum accessible only by guided house tours. The tour guide provides the visitor with information about the Maxey family and the house where they resided continuously for 99 years. Each room exhibits original furnishings of this prominent Paris family. For more information about the Maxey family, visit Brief History. |
Q: What is the square footage of the house?
A: The approximate footage is 5,500 sq. ft.
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Q: Are there ghosts in the house?
A: There is no evidence that ghosts exist in the house.
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Q: Does anyone live in the house now?
A: No. The Maxey’s daughter-in-law’s second cousin’s family moved out in 1967 and donated the home to the city of Paris. The city of Paris donated the home to the state of Texas in the 1970s.
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Q: I visited the Sam Bell Maxey House in middle school; nothing changes, so why should I visit the house again?
A: History is vast and malleable. Chances are you will gain different insights and perspectives now than when you were a student. For example, the house does not have a contemporary living room or den but it does have a parlor and a breakfast room. This is because the house remains embedded in its original Victorian and modern themes rather than contemporary or post-modern themes.
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Q: Are public restrooms available?
A: Yes, a half-bath facility is available for public use. It is not handicap-accessible at this time.
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Q: Is the house handicap-accessible?
A: There is a handicap access ramp for the first floor located on the south side of the house. The second floor is not handicap-accessible.
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Q: Who owns the Sam Bell Maxey House?
A:
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