General Sam Houston was an enigmatic and fascinating leader; a brilliant military strategist who led the ragtag Texian army to independence; later a statesman who guided the Republic, and then the state of Texas, in elected office. He remained a political force from the birth of the Texas Revolution to the start of the US Civil War.

Houston stood on his principles, often against great opposition, and was an ardent Unionist; a fierce advocate for the rights of the Cherokee nation, with whom he had deep personal ties; and an outspoken critic of slavery. He died in 1863 at age 70.

This museum, a 5-acre complex containing Houston’s Steamboat home, preserves the memory of the general’s remarkable life and times.

A FITTING TRIBUTE

Sam Houston—statesman, general, governor, president—certainly deserves memorializing with street names, a city, a university, and statues. He has also received his own museum, an educational institution with a mission to engage visitors in both the personal life and professional achievements of Houston and the history of Texas. Located within the Huntsville city limits, the 18-acre historic site occupies the remains of Houston's 200-acre farm. The site is now owned and managed by the Sam Houston State University and is included in the National Register of Historic Places. Situated among the site's natural woodlands and landscape spaces are 10 buildings including historic structures and the museum itself, a rotunda with three wings housing the principal permanent collection.

The collection, an extensive heritage of 5,000 objects, artifacts, manuscripts and letters, including those of both Sam and Margaret Houston, are all archived within the museum. Among the historic buildings visitors may tour are the log cabin, home of Houston and his family of eight children, and the unusual Steamboat House, rented by the Houstons in the early 1860s and later moved to the historic site in 1936.

Houston spent his final few years here, dying in the architecturally unique house. Just beyond the parlor where his body lay in preparation for the funeral, visitors may visit his one-room log law office where discussions integral to the future of Texas took place.