Paris, Texas –– The Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site invites the community to celebrate its 157th birthday on Saturday, December 13, from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. with “A Very Merry Birthday Celebration.” Guests can enjoy a festive evening featuring cupcakes and hot cocoa, Christmas crafts, letters to Santa, photo opportunities, and a holiday-themed scavenger hunt. A face painter will also be on-site to add an extra touch of cheer for a small fee. Admission to the event is free, and visitors are welcome to come and go throughout the evening.

Throughout December, visitors can also experience the magic of a Victorian Christmas at the Maxey House. Guided tours will highlight 19th-century holiday traditions such as Christmas cards, decorations, and gift-giving, as well as the Maxey family’s own Christmas dinner. Guests will have the chance to view original artifacts tied to the family’s celebrations, including books gifted to Marilda Maxey by her husband, Sam Bell Maxey, and their grandson Thomas, along with Christmas cards sent to the Maxeys by various West Point Military Academy classes. Regular tour admission is $5.00 for adults, $2.00 for students ages 6–17, and free for children 5 and under.

“The combination of celebrating the Maxey House’s birthday and Christmas in the same month is always a delightful time for our staff,” said Elana Barton, site educator. “It was on December 16, 1868, that the Maxey family first moved into their home, and we believe that’s cause for celebration! We take great joy in  sharing the Maxeys’ story and exploring how Christmas was cherished during the Victorian era—both the similarities and differences compared to today’s traditions.”

The Sam Bell Maxey House is located at 812 South Church St. For more information, please contact the Sam Bell Maxey House at 903.785.5716, visit the site’s website at www.visitsambellmaxeyhouse.com, or
Facebook page at www.facebook.com/visitsambellmaxeyhouse.

The Sam Bell Maxey House State Historic Site, a Texas Historical Commission property, was built in 1868 in the High Victorian Italianate-style as the home of Samuel Bell Maxey and his wife Marilda. Maxey served in the U.S.-Mexico War, was a Confederate general and two-term U.S. Senator. Members of the Maxey family lived in the house until 1966 and the restored house reflects almost 100 years of their continuous use. For more information visit visitsambellmaxeyhouse.com.

thc.texas.gov