Goodman–LeGrand House facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Goodman–LeGrand House

Goodman–LeGrand House in 2019
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Established	1940 (1940)
Location	624 N. Broadway Tyler, Texas
Type	Historic house Park and gardens
Architect	Samuel Gallatin Smith

The Goodman–LeGrand House is a historic home and museum in Tyler, Texas. It is located at 624 North Broadway. This special house helps us learn about the past. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. It has also been a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark since 1962. In 2010, the Daughters of the American Revolution called it an Historic Site.

History of the Goodman–LeGrand House

The house was first called Bonnie Castle. It was built in 1859 by Samuel Gallatin Smith. The style of the house was Greek Revival. It sat on a large piece of land, about 9 acres, in Tyler.

In 1861, Smith joined the Confederate States Army. He sold Bonnie Castle to a local teacher named F.N. Gary. Mr. Gary never lived in the house himself. After the city of New Orleans was captured in 1862, many families had to leave their homes. Mr. Gary let these families stay in the house to keep them safe.

In 1866, a retired doctor named Samuel A. Goodman bought the house. Later, in 1872, his son, Dr. William J. Goodman, bought it for $3,000. William and his wife, Priscilla Gaston Goodman, moved in. They raised four children in the house. In 1880, they added a second floor to the building. They also added Victorian porches all around the house.

William and Priscilla's daughter, Sallie, continued to live in the home. She married James Hutcheson LeGrand in 1893. The couple was very involved in their community. They often hosted charity and social events at their home. They were big supporters of the Tyler rose festival. Sadly, their only son died when he was just two years old in 1896.

When William Goodman passed away in 1921, Sallie inherited the house. In 1926, the LeGrands completely updated the house. They changed it to the Classic revival style you see today. The round porches at the front were added during this time.

Goodman–LeGrand Museum

James Hutcheson LeGrand died in 1935. When Sallie LeGrand passed away on October 12, 1939, she left the house to the City of Tyler. She also left all her personal journals. The house officially became the city's property in 1940.

In 1962, the house was named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark. Then, in 1976, it was placed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Daughters of the American Revolution recognized the house as a national Historic Site in 2010. The house had a big update starting in 2010, which finished in 2011.

Visiting the Museum

The City of Tyler takes care of the house and its gardens. The museum is open to visitors five days a week, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. It is closed on Sundays and Mondays. The beautiful LeGrand Park & Gardens are open every day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is free to visit, but donations are welcome.

Gallery

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  Dining room

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  Etta Gwendolyn Goodman's bedroom

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  James and Sallie LeGrand's bedroom

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  Guest room

See also

• Carnegie History Center
• Cotton Belt Depot Train Museum
• List of museums in East Texas
• Tyler Museum of Art
• Whitaker–McClendon House
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Smith County, Texas
• Recorded Texas Historic Landmarks in Smith County