The city of Huntsville was established around 1936 when Pleasant and Ephraim Gray opened a trading post in the area, naming it after their hometown of Huntsville, Alabama. It eventually became the home of Sam Houston, an American general and statesman who played an important role in the Texas Revolution. Huntsville is home to many historical buildings and homes built between the 18th and 19th centuries. Preservation efforts have been ongoing since the mid-20th century. It is most notably home to Sam Houston State University, Texas State Prison, Huntsville State Park, and the Sam Houston Memorial Museum.