About Us
The mission of Dallas Heritage Village is to collect, preserve and teach the
history of Dallas and North Central Texas. Located in historic Old City Park, the
museum uses its collections of historic buildings and furnishings, representing
the period 1840-1910, to sponsor research, publications and exhibits, and to
present educational programs and special events for diverse audiences of
children, families and adults.
Our History
Foundation work in progress for Millermore,
July 1967
The Cedars, an elegant neighborhood, home of many business and mercantile
leaders, grew up around City Park in the 1880s and 1890s. The city’s first zoo
was located here and weekly concerts were given in the bandstand similar to
the one at the Village today. Browder Springs, which now flows underground,
was the first water supply with a wooden water main carrying water to the
young city. Turn-of-the-century maps show a large pavilion, fountain, pump
house, pond and greenhouses. The greenhouses were open to the public
during the day for touring.
After World War II, many people moved to the suburbs around Dallas and
highways were built to get them in to the city for work. Interstate 30 cut the
Cedars neighborhood off from downtown, leaving the neighborhood and the park
in decline. The future of City Park looked dim until a group of women determined
to save a historic plantation house from the wrecking ball offered the park a
new role in the culture of Dallas. The ladies who rescued Millermore stored the
disassembled pieces in a warehouse, and then called Ray Hubbard, president of
the park board. He agreed with their idea to reconstruct the house in City Park,
where it became the first of 21 buildings transported here to become a village.
When Millermore opened here in 1969 the museum was called Old City Park. As
living history became popular, the museum introduced first person interpreters
who speak in the role of a person from the early days of Dallas. In 2005 the
museum’s name was changed to Dallas Heritage Village at Old City Park to
reflect the living village it has become.
Aerial shot of grounds, 1975
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