Opal Lawrence Historical Park, Mesquite

About Opal Lawrence Historical Park

Opal Lawrence Historical Park houses the legendary Lawrence home and outbuildings where visitors explore thirteen acres of North Texas farm life and Mesquite history. Guided tours of the house are offered twice daily, Tuesday through Saturday, with tickets sold online. The 1874 residence exemplifies Texas prairie vernacular architecture and remains largely unchanged since its construction, when Stephen Decatur Lawrence first completed three rooms. A contractor later added fourteen rooms in 1882, followed by a kitchen and tower between 1886 and 1900. The farmstead complex includes a smokehouse, brick-lined root cellar, wash house, livestock barn, mule barn, and intact chicken coops. The park grounds remain open to the public outside tour times. The property is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, designated a Recorded Texas Historical Landmark, and recognized as a Century Family Farm by the Texas Department of Agriculture. The park suits school field trips, family visits, and rental events in Mesquite.