In a corner of the TERI Campus of Life in San Marcos sits a small white farmhouse built in 1889 by Major Gustavus French Merriam, the first homesteader in the Twin Oaks Valley.
In 2025, TERI is excited to start transforming Merriam House into an interactive museum, creating a place where history, architecture, culture and service meet. Featuring historic displays and a community meeting room, the house and grounds will connect to the TERI campus and farm, offering a Monarch waystation and butterfly garden, community event spaces and plants and trees indigenous to the area. Visitors will see, touch and learn about San Marcos' history firsthand through fun and interactive experiences.
How You Can Help
Help us raise the first $50,000 of this project to prepare our plans, obtain permitting and get the site "shovel-ready." Every donation helps the TERI Campus of Life and our Merriam House Restoration project create memories for generations to come. Join our community and donate today!
Building A Campus – Creating A Community
The Merriam House will join historic points of interest between Deer Springs Road and San Marcos’ new North City development like the Birdwell and Cox homes of Heritage Park and the restored Twin Oaks Hall to create a historic district that encourages tourist visits, community activities, events, and gatherings. Increased visitor traffic will support not only TERI's mission but local businesses, restaurants, shops and hotels in the city of San Marcos and our community will become an even more attractive, sustainable place to live, study, conduct business and raise families.
Visit the TERI Campus of Life for a tour, a meal at the Common Grounds Cafe or a show at The Bornemann theatre. For more information please contact us here.
