Nestled inside the historic Goodman-LeGrand Museum are hundreds of artifacts that narrate the stories of one of East Texas’s most prosperous families. These treasures, ranging from paintings and furniture to delicate china on the dining room table, have been cherished heirlooms passed down through generations, each with its own tale of heritage and history.
“Basically, 90 percent of what you see throughout the home belong to three generations of Goodmans,” said museum supervisor Debbie Isham. “The home itself started out as a one-story, four room dog-trot style cabin built (in 1859) by bachelor Samuel Gallatin Smith.”
Smith sold the home in 1861 when the Civil War broke out. He became a Captain in the Confederacy and was later killed in battle in Louisiana. The next owner was Franklin N. Gary, a local teacher.
In 1866, Dr. Samuel Adams Goodman, a retired country doctor from South Carolina, purchased the house from Gary. The following year, his son, Dr. William Jeffries Goodman, a local doctor and Civil War Major and Chief Surgeon, bought the house and moved in with his wife, Mary Priscilla Gaston. Her brother was William Henry Gaston, a founder of the city of Dallas, and one of Dallas’ first millionaires. For 73 years and four generations, this prominent family made the house their family home, according to the City of Tyler.
In 1926, the mansion underwent significant renovations, including the addition of the distinctive elements that define its current appearance of classic revival-style architecture.
The Goodman-LeGrand Museum is one of the city’s oldest residential landmarks. (Tyler Morning Telegraph File)
“When Sallie (Goodman) passed away in 1939, in her will she left the house with all of its contents and the 9 acres to the City of Tyler, but she wanted it to be an art museum … most of all a gathering place,” Isham said. “So, we are still here today as a museum and often have art exhibits as well.”
To honor Sallie’s love for all things art, Isham launched an art exhibition in 2023 to showcase local artists from the area.
“The Dining Cherub” by local artist Doug Carter is among many pieces on display for the Treasures on Canvas exhibit at Goodman-LeGrand Museum through Aug. 3. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
“We called it Treasures in Still Life because local artists painted things that were in the home,” Isham said. “So artifacts just all throughout the house … from China (dishes), statues … whatever the artist wanted to depict in their painting.”
The museum is noted for its architectural significance and historical value, preserving an important part of Tyler’s heritage. It also hosts various events and educational programs related to local history and culture, making it a cultural hub in the Tyler community.
“This year, I changed it to Treasures on Canvas to include exterior paintings or things that were in the house,” Isham said. “It can’t be something that was painted somewhere else or a view of the ocean or … something like that. It has to pertain to the Goodman Home. The paintings that we have this time depict items that are inside a room or the exterior of the museum.”
“Timeless Treasures” by Tammy Murphy is displayed upstairs of the historic Goodman-LeGrand Museum. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
In May, Tyler’s Parks and Recreation Department issued a call-out to local artists to showcase their work at the museum. Participants were encouraged to photograph subjects of interest inside or outside the museum then create artworks ranging from 5-by-7 to 16-by-20 in any medium.
“It can be acrylic … oil, pencil, pastel, sketch,” Isham said. “And it’s not just for adult painters … it can be for children as well.”
Four local artists are featured throughout the house, including Doug Carter, Felicia Gunter, Tammy Murphy, and Christie Gunter Joy.
“The Goodman” by local artist Doug Carter is displayed for Treasures on Canvas exhibit at the Goodman-LeGrand Museum. (Jennifer Scott/Tyler Morning Telegraph)
“There is so much talent in the Tyler area,” Isham said. “(This exhibit) is one way to showcase the artists here, their work … their different medium styles. I love bringing art into the museum. This is something that Sallie Goodman-LeGrand wanted … an art museum.”
The Treasures on Canvas event will continue through Aug. 3. The museum is located at 624 N. Broadway Ave. and is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. Admission is free, but a suggested $3 donation per person will go toward the day-to-day operation of the museum.
For more information, contact the Goodman-LeGrand Museum at 903-531-1286.
