Chestnut Square Historic Park

Chestnut Square Historic Village is a collection of six historic homes, a replica one-room schoolhouse, chapel and shop located on 2.5 acres south of downtown McKinney Square. The area also includes a blacksmith’s shop, a smokehouse, and a reception hall and reception gardens. The buildings contain period artifacts that show how people lived in Collin County from 1854 to 1940. Chestnut Square Historic Village is operated by the Heritage Guild of Collin County. In November 1973, Joan Palmer Hughston organized a small group of women to preserve a sample of McKinney’s historical heritage. Joan’s mother-in-law Margaret Hughston, Martha Schubert, Frances Caldwell, Nan Dyer, Irene Thomas, Frieda Comegys, Lucy Burkett and Ethel Holt attended that first meeting. Their first project was to organize a Christmas tour of homes. Margaret Hughston’s home on Howell Street represented a children’s Christmas. Joan Hughston’s home in Louisiana was the epitome of a Victorian Christmas. Ethel Holt presented her farmhouse called A Farm Christmas. Martha Schubert was represented by A Family Christmas and Nanette Boyd’s home was Modern Christmas. The first Christmas tour was a huge success.

The financial advantage allowed the group to purchase the Dulaney home and the adjacent Dulaney cottage on Chestnut Street. Those homes became the foundation of what we now call Chestnut Square Historic Village. In 1974, the Heritage Guild of Collin County was formed to preserve the historic village of Chestnut Square. The spirit and dedication of the founders will continue to be markers as we continue to create a vibrant portrait of McKinney and Collin County. Its mission is to host community events that bring people together to celebrate the heritage of Collin County. Holds buildings, artifacts, and grounds that show how people lived during an important period in Collin County’s history (1850-1940). Providing educational programs to show how people lived between 1850 and 1940. Supporting Collin County and McKinney in creating a community that owns its own unique history in future management. Step back in time with a visit to Chestnut Square Historic Village. Don’t forget to check out this place in McKinney too.

Located on 2.5 acres just two blocks south of historic downtown McKinney Square, Chestnut Square offers an opportunity to step back in time and restore a sense of community. With ten buildings dating from 1854 to 1930, the village offers docent tours, space rentals, wedding venues, living history shows and community events like Texas’ #1 Farmers Market and the Killis Melton Ice Cream Parlor. See how the town’s communities work and play as you explore ten surviving buildings from 1854 to 1930. There’s a chapel, schoolhouse, boarding house, village shop and a selection of homes. Volunteers happily help bring these buildings to life by donning historical costumes and demonstrating the skills needed to survive in 1800s McKinney. If you are in need of home construction, click here.