Denton County Texas Historic Homes

Confederate Soldiers Monument, Denton TX

When Texas won it's independence from Mexico in 1836, the area of present day Denton County Texas was inhabited by Native Americans. White settlers had yet to penetrate the region. During the days of Spanish and Mexican rule, the population of the Texas region was primarily located in the southeast section from about San Antonio east to the Galveston and present day Houston areas and southward to the border.

Today's Denton County Texas

Denton Texas is located about 39 miles north/northwest of downtown Dallas along Interstate 35E.

Today, Denton Texas is the home to both the University of North Texas as well as Texas Womens University. 

John B. Denton

John B. Denton  is considered the founder of Denton County Texas. In the early years of the Republic of Texas, volunteers were relied upon to patrol the new republic. Denton, who also was a preacher from Clark County, answered the call. He was commissioned captain of a company in Brig. Gen. Edward H. Tarrant’s Fourth Brigade, Texas Militia. Tarrant is also the namesake of Tarrant County Texas, the county surrounding present day Fort Worth. 

As for John Denton, he was killed during an expedition that was involved in an Indian fight east of Fort Worth on May 24th 1841 while searching for Indian villages. At the time of Denton's death he left behind a widow and six children. 

John B. Denton grave marker, Denton TX

Some fifteen years later in 1856, John Chisum, a rancher in Denton County had heard about the fate of John Denton through his father who served with him during those first years of Texas independence. As it turned out, a grave was discovered along a Denton County creek and by all physical descriptions available seemed to match that of John Denton. Chisum ended up burying the remains on his ranch. Nearly half a century later, in 1900, the remains of John Denton were turned over by the then ranch owners to the Old Settler’s Association of Denton County for burial in the town which bears his name. Today, John Denton's grave is on the grounds of the Denton County Courthouse. 

Denton County Courthouse

Travel Stops in Denton Texas

The Denton County Courthouse

As courthouses go, Texas has one of the largest collections of old courthouses found anywhere in the United States. The Courthouse Museum located on the first floor of the Denton County Texas Courthouse was opened in 1979. Here you'll find excellent exhibits depicting Denton County Texas history. Vintage weapons, Indian pottery, old farming equipment and other old frontier artifacts can be found at this interesting Texas museum. In addition, you'll most likely find an interesting special temporary exhibit on display through a specific date. These could be anything from the frontier era through the age of the modern transportation.



Also see our Western Trips photo articles on Visiting San Marcos Texas and the Historic Texas Town of Hillsboro. Also see our Historic Homes of Waco Texas

Bayless-Selby House Museum

Bayless-Selby House Museum 

Opened in 2001, and located just a few blocks southeast of the Denton County Courthouse, the Bayless-Selby House Museum was at one time a two room farmhouse owned by Samuel Bayless. The house was originally located outside of town and over the years Bayless added rooms to the dwelling. In 1919, Samuel died after an altercation on the property. The house was subsequently sold to Mr. and Mrs. R.L. Selby who were friends of the Bayless family. The home was constructed in the Victorian Queen Anne architectural style. The grounds include a Victorian antique rose garden, redbud allee, and gazebo.

The Selby family owned the home until 1970. The City of Denton took over ownership around 1990 and eventually auctioned it off the a member of the city's historical commission. The new owner fortunately moved the house and turned it over to Denton County and today residents and tourists alike are able to enjoy this historic county museum. The house is furnished pre-1908 Denton County by donations from county residents. A major collection on exhibit is The Daugherty Collection of handpainted porcelain.

One of the many historic buildings in Denton TX

The Bayless-Selby House Museum is locate at 317 West Mulberry Street in the  Historical Park of Denton County.

Annual Denton Texas Events

Every February Denton Texas hosts the Thin Line Film Fest. This international documentary film festival. The festival runs for eleven days and features documentaries and high quality unique films. 

In March is the 35 Denton award winning music festival. The festival features groups and bands with a wide selection of music from across the nation.

April brings the Denton Arts and Jazz Festival in Quakertown Park.

(Photos from author's private collection)
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