The Woodland Home was built in 1848 as the family home of lawyer and politician Sam Houston, Texas Senator and former president of the Republic of Texas. The family lived there for eight years with their several enslaved people, including Joshua Houston, who was highly respected by the family and community.

Between 1853 and 1878 the house had various owners before being sold to S. Smedes. In 1899, it opened as "Smedes' Boarding House for Girls," with several large additions. In 1905, Sam Houston Normal Institute (SHNI) (now Sam Houston State University) students and Bertha Kirkley of the history department decided to restore the site. They raised money to purchase the original property and the house, and returned the Woodland Home to the land. The Woodland Home first opened as a museum in 1929. It has undergone extensive restoration efforts in the years since then.

In 1936, the museum’s rotunda was constructed. It displays permanent collections and exhibits about General Sam Houston's life. 1958 saw a first addition to the north and west wings and a second addition to the south wing in 1962. In 1974, the Museum was designated as a National Historic Landmark and put on the National Register of Historic Places. It is a part of Sam Houston State University.