A. W. Perry Homestead – Carrollton, Texas
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 the 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.
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, a 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.
Traveling Trunk
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.
Photography
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 photoshoots to avoid potential conflicts.
Birthday Parties
Celebrate your child’s birthday at the A.W. Perry Homestead Museum! You bring the guests, Carrollton Parks & Recreation does the rest. Party amenities include party host, one hour of organized activity, one hour for party festivities, paper goods, decorations, cake, lemonade, and a special gift for the birthday child. Full payment, as well as a damage deposit, is due at the time of booking. Bookings made less than 30 days from the event date will be subject to approval by the Recreation Coordinator.