City of Carrollton, TX
Home MenuA.W. Perry Homestead Museum
LOCATION |
HOURS |
1509 N. Perry Road
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Tuesday - Thursday, Saturday:11 a.m. - 1 p.m. |
Background
| The A.W. Perry Homestead Museum offers a glimpse of life as it was in north central Texas at the turn of the 20th Century. A.W. and Sarah (Huffman) Perry were pioneer homesteaders of Peters Colony who came to Carrollton in the year 1844 from Carrollton, Illinois. They claimed 640 acres and built a house on this farm in 1857. In 1909, their son Dewitt Perry and his wife Francis (Grimes) tore down the first house and used some of the lumber to build the present-day house. This structure is now the Museum, restored in 1976 for the bicentennial. You can still find the foundation stones of the first Perry farmhouse in the backyard of the Museum. Designated a historic landmark in 1977 by the Texas Historical Commission. |
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| Gravley Park contains 13 acres adjacent to the A.W. Perry Homestead Museum. The park was dedicated to the city by Mrs. Pearl Perry Gravley. The facility includes walking paths, park benches, drinking fountain, and parking. Working with the Perry Society, a 501(c)3 organization, the city completed the installation of a 20’ gazebo in honor of Milburn Gravley, one of Carrollton’s Mayors. The gazebo design complements the A.W. Perry House as it reflects the Victorian period.
In 2020, the City completed a comprehensive Historic Structures Report (HSR) for the A.W. Perry Homestead Museum and property. An HSR provides detailed documentary, graphic, and physical information about a structure and property's history and current condition, helping to prioritize restoration efforts to prolong its longevity and utility. |
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| 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. | |
11 a.m. - 1 p.m.