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"Squared
logs covered with hand-hewn, whitewashed boards"
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, October 2010 |
Historical
Marker Text
Woodland, Home
of Sam Houston
General of the
army which won the war for Texas Independence, 1836, and first President
of the Republic, 1836-1838, Sam
Houston was one of the most controversial and colorful figures
in Texas history.
In his eventful career, Houston had resided in Nacogdoches,
Liberty,
Houston, and Austin.
He and his wife Margaret (Lea) built this house, "Woodland", in 1847
to provide themselves with a town place. With enthusiasm, he wrote
to a friend that the new home was a "bang up place!" and that the
climate was "said to be healthy". Houston and his wife lived at Woodland
while he was a U.S. Senator, 1846-1859, perhaps the happiest and most
prosperous years of his life. Four of their eight children were born
here.
The house was built in a style common to the South at the time: squared
logs covered with hand-hewn, whitewashed boards. The detached kitchen
and law office were built of unfinished, squared logs. In 1859 Houston
was elected governor but, although opposed to secession, he could
not keep Texas from joining the Confederacy in 1861. Deposed from
office, he returned to his second Huntsville home, called the "Steamboat
House", where he died in 1863.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark
1962 |
 |
Law
office - "built of unfinished, squared logs."
Photo courtesy Barclay
Gibson, October 2010 |
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Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
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