Early Life: 1793-1813
Sam Houston is born to Major Sam Houston and Elizabeth Paxton Houston on March 2, 1793. After growing up on a farm in Baker Creek, Tennessee, Sam moves to live with the Cherokees
Sunday: 12:00pm – 4:30pm
Monday: Closed
Tuesday - Saturday: 9:00am – 4:30pm
**Holiday schedule:
Closed December 23, 24, and 25, 2024
December 26 Open 9am - 4:30pm
December 27 Open 9am - 4:30pm
December 28 Open 9am - 4:30pm
December 29 Open Noon - 4:30pm
Closed December 30
December 31 Open 9am - 4:30pm
Closed January 1, 2025
Note: The Katy & E. Don Walker, Sr. Education Center and administrative offices will be closed from Dec. 23 - Jan. 1.
Includes same-day admission to the Memorial Museum, Walker Education Center and all historic houses and outdoor sites. There is no extra charge for entrance to special exhibitions.
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Sam Houston is born to Major Sam Houston and Elizabeth Paxton Houston on March 2, 1793. After growing up on a farm in Baker Creek, Tennessee, Sam moves to live with the Cherokees
Houston enlisted in the Army as a private in 1813. His courage in combat caught the attention of General Andrew Jackson. In 1818, Houston resigns his commission in the army over false accusations concerning his involvement in slave trading. He was appointed Adjutant General of the state of Tennessee, with the military rank of Colonel.
Houston passed the bar in 1818 and started practicing law. He held the Attorney General of the Nashville District in Tennessee from 1819-1821. In 1823 and 1825, he was elected to the Democratic Party for the House of Representatives with 100% of the votes. He was elected Governor in 1827 and resigned from the position in 1829.
Houston and his first wife Eliza Allen were married for less than 3 months before separating. Houston became a Cherokee citizen in 1829, marrying his second wife Tiana the following year.
Stephen F. Austin approved Houston's application to acquire land in Texas. He was a delegate to the Second Convention calling for the state of Texas to be separated from Coahuila and was later named as Major General in the Texas Army in 1835. In 1836, he was present at the Texas Constitutional Convention and celebrated his 43rd Birthday the following day as Texas declared its independence from Mexico. He was then named Major General of the Army of the Republic of Texas.
On April 21, 1836, Houston's army of 800 attacked Santa Anna's 1400 man army and in 20 minutes, they won the Battle of San Jacinto. With Santa Anna captured, an amristice was signed. He was elected President of the Republic of Texas on September 5. In 1840, he married Margaret Lea and was reelected as President the following year.
Houston buys the property in Huntsville to build the Woodland Home in 1847. He was sworn in to his first full term as U.S. Senator in 1848. In 1850, Texas ratifies the Texas Section of the series of bills making up the Compromise of 1850. Houston is pleased, having spoken for the Compromise 13 times. He was elected to his third and last U.S. Senator term in 1853. In 1857, he lost his Governor election to Hardin R. Runnels, but defeated him to become Governor in 1859. After Texas secedes from the Union, Governor Houston refused to take the oath of allegiance to the Confederate States of America and is deposed as Governor. He died of pneumonia at the Steamboat House in Huntsville in 1863.