Terrell

A peculiar octagonal house once stood on the western edge of Terrell. It belonged to Robert A. Terrell, the very man our city is named after. He built this unique home, known as the “Round House,” in the 1870s as protection against Native American attacks. It even featured the first glass windows in Kaufman County. Imagine Terrell back then, a burgeoning railroad town springing up around the Texas and Pacific Railroad line in 1873. The city officially incorporated just two years later in 1875. Terrell wasn’t always a welcoming place for everyone. Historical records show that in 1892, it was a “sundown town,” largely excluding African Americans. The legacy of Robert A. Terrell, however, took an interesting turn. His “Round House” and a portion of his former farm became the site of the Terrell Military College. This institution thrived until after World War II. In 1949, the Southern Bible Institute purchased the property and transformed it into Southwestern Christian College. Today, this historically Black college still stands in Terrell, a testament to the evolving history of our city. The “Round House” itself remains on campus, one of only 20 such structures in the entire United States. Terrell is more than just its namesake and unique architecture. Did you know that during World War II, Terrell played a vital role in training British Royal Air Force pilots? The No. 1 British Flying Training School, the first of its kind in the US, was located right here. You can explore this fascinating history at the No. 1 British Flying Training School Museum, located at the Terrell Municipal Airport. The city continues to honor its wartime history with an annual World War II veterans’ reunion and air event. It’s a chance to see vintage aircraft, military vehicles, and experience the thrill of skydiving, all while commemorating the brave pilots who trained on Terrell’s soil. From an octagonal house built for protection to a training ground for international pilots, Terrell’s story is one of transformation and remembrance. As you walk through our city, remember the layers of history beneath your feet and the legacies that have shaped Terrell into what it is today.