Registration for A.W. Perry Homestead Museum tours

Self-guided or docent-guided tours are available during the Museum's operating hours Tuesday–Thursday and Saturday, 11 a.m.–1 p.m., or by appointment. Admission is free.

Museum Guidelines

• No animals allowed inside the museum (unless ADA service animal).
• No food or drinks allowed inside the Museum. Visitors may leave drinks outside on the porch while touring.
• Do not touch or move items on display, unless specified by the tour guide.
• Do not sit or lean on any furniture.
• Children under the age of 7 cannot be left unsupervised.
• Outbuildings are not opened to the public. No one is allowed inside the barn or root cellar.
• Commercial photography is not permitted inside the museum.

Perry Pumpkin Patch

Every fall, the museum and Pearl Perry Gravley Park are decorated for a delightful celebration of all things fall. Guests can immerse themselves in the joy of classic, old-fashioned games that will transport them to a bygone era and capture magical moments at the picture-perfect photo-op stations scattered across the museum grounds.

Learn more about Perry Pumpkin Patch

Story Time at the Perry

Visit the museum for Story Time at the Perry! Held biweekly, it’s the perfect time to discover new stories, spark imaginations, and enjoy a little reading adventure at the museum. 

 Exhibition Calendar  &  The Perry Museum Facebook

The Perry Museum is proud to display special exhibits for guests to explore. Every quarter, the museum has focused exhibits on various history topics. The new body of work will bridge historical research with artifact interpretation, so a visit to the museum will teach visitors so much more about the past. To check exhibition dates, visit the Carrollton Parks & Rec calendar or the Perry Museum's Facebook page for updates. 

Prairie to Parlor: Perspectives on Childhood on the North Texas Frontier
Dates: August 28-November 9
Hours: Tuesday–Thursday and Saturday, 11 am-1 pm

Welcome to Prairie to Parlor—a peek into experiences of children during the Texas Republic and early statehood. North Texas was a lively center of change, as the Republic opened land for families looking for a new start, through land grants. Where wide-open prairie once stretched on, new homes and parlors began to take root—shaping daily life with customs and traditions influenced by communities east of the frontier. 

For many newcomers, the journey offered big hopes and new possibilities. For others, arriving meant difficult losses: displacement, separation from family, and the challenge of building a life in unfamiliar times. As you explore, you’ll see that children’s experiences were varied—but they shared many common challenges and joys. 

Traveling Trunks

The A.W. Perry Homestead Museum provides trunks to local schools as a FREE service. Each trunk contains hands-on artifacts for students to examine and an activity guide for teachers. All activities are TEKS-aligned according to state-mandated curriculum guidelines.

History Mystery Trunks are for 3rd through 5th grade students. They will uncover the past using artifacts, learn the basic principles of material culture, and observe and analyze objects in the trunk in order to discover their uses.

School Days Trunks are for 1st through 3rd grade students. Students will compare and contrast how education has changed over the past 150 years, try on pioneer clothing, and even imagine what it will be like to go to school in the future. t

Register for Traveling Trunks Reservations

Field Trips

Our historic home museum offers free field trips for school groups of all ages and home school groups. We provide TEKS-aligned curriculum for every visit-just tell us your group's age range, and we will send you a tailored TEKS plan to match your learning goals. Field trips can be scheduled outside of normal public hours, making it easy to fit into your school or home schedule. Fill out the form below to save a spot today!

 Register Your Group

The Museum has volunteer opportunities available all year. We are always in need of volunteer tour guides/docents for our scheduled school, group tours, and special events. Research and other opportunities are also available. Call 972-466-6380 for more information or email Jessica.Bell@CityofCarrollton.com for more information.

To begin your docent journey, visit the volunteer portal.

The A.W. Perry Homestead Museum interprets Carrollton and North Texas history from the 1840s through the 1930s, bringing to light the people, places, and events that shaped our region. We welcome donations on select historical items will enrich our collection and support our mission. For details about what and how we collect, please reference the Collections Policy.

If you are considering a donation of an item to the Museum, please fill out the linked form.

Email Jessica.Bell@CityofCarrollton.com if you have any questions about the donation process. 

Photography Guidelines

Professional photographers are welcome to use the grounds of the A.W. Perry Homestead Museum and Pearl Perry Park as a backdrop for their business. The Perry Homestead often schedules tours, programs and site rentals outside of its regular posted hours. Professional photographers should check the Perry Homestead’s schedule before booking their photo shoots to avoid potential conflicts.

Museum Restoration

At the July 2, 2024 Council meeting, the Parks and Recreation department was authorized to allocate over $500,000 for the restoration of the property. In 2025, the City unveiled a newly restored museum with a new roof, significant electrical upgrades, and complete exterior restoration of the siding, porch, and awning. Additional ADA accesses and a mechanical lift were installed at the back of the house. Interior restoration included wallpaper, flooring, carpentry, and window restoration. The homestead has not undergone such a detailed or comprehensive restoration since the City acquired it in 1975.