Thomas V. Munson Home
Denison, Grayson County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Home built by world-famed scientist. Munson (1843-1913) was born in Illinois; educated in Kentucky; married Ellen Scott Bell, 1870; had eleven children.Settled in Denison 1876, and developed extensive nurseries.Built this Victorian home of brick with wood trim in 1887. An 1888 guest in the house was French Minister of Agriculture, who came here to give Munson (as reward for saving vineyards) Medal of French Legion of Honor. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1967 [marker attached to house] Home of Thomas Munson(1843-1913) World famed grape culturist. Earned second degree ever given at Kentucky A. & M. College (1870) Moved to Denison 1876; became a civic leader and had nurseries for wide varieties of plants. In 1880s helped France save vineyards from root disease, and became second American ever named to French Legion of Honor. His scientific papers filed in Washington, D. C., are still used by horticulturists. He and his wife built this home 1887. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark-1967 [marker at curbside]
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Thomas Volney Munson settled in Denison in 1876 and built extensive nurseries, becoming one of the world's foremost authorities on grapes. When a root disease devastated France's vineyards, Munson's work with hardy American rootstock helped save them—an achievement that brought a French agriculture minister to his door and made him only the second American named to the French Legion of Honor. He built this brick Victorian home in 1887.
Why it matters
Munson's rescue of the French wine industry shows how American scientific ingenuity in the Gilded Age reached across the Atlantic, and his research still guides horticulturists today.
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Related people
- · Thomas V. Munson
- · Ellen Scott Bell
Themes & tags
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