List of the oldest buildings in Texas explained

See also: Oldest buildings in America. This article attempts to list the oldest buildings in the state of Texas in the United States of America, including the oldest houses in Texas and any other surviving structures, including those constructed during the Spanish colonization, before independence and during the early republic. Some dates are approximate and based on architectural studies and historical records, other dates are based on dendrochronology. All entries should include citation with reference to: period architectural features; a report by an architectural historian; or dendrochronology. Sites on the list are generally from the earliest period architecture. Only buildings built prior to 1840 are suitable for inclusion on this list or the building must be the oldest of its type.

BuildingImageLocationFirst BuiltNotes
The AlamoSan Antonio1718Part of the San Antonio Missions, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Site of the Battle of the Alamo.
Alamo Mission Long BarracksSan Antonioc. 1724The Alamo Chapel and Priests quarters and convent (Long Barracks) in San Antonio. In the center of the surrounding area are the remains of the "Long Barracks" which were constructed 20 years before the Chapel. Founded in 1718 and moved to present site 1724.[1]
Mission ConcepcionSan Antonio1731Part of the San Antonio Missions; listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Mission San Juan Capistrano (Texas)south of San Antonio1731Spanish Mission[2]
Espada Acequiasouth of San Antonio1731Built by Franciscan friars in 1731 to supply irrigation water to the lands near Mission San Francisco de la Espada
San Fernando CathedralSan Antonio1738–1750One of the oldest Cathedrals in the United States; the oldest Cathedral in Texas. Listed on the National Register of historic places.
Mission EspadaSan Antonio1745Part of the San Antonio Missions; listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Founded 1690; building current building constructed in 1745
Presidio La BahíaGoliad1749The best preserved Spanish presidio in the United States.[3]
Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de ZúñigaGoliad1749-1758Restored early mission nearby the Presidio La Bahia.
Spanish Governor's PalaceSan Antonio1749
Ruiz HouseSan Antonio1750
Mission San JoseSan Antonio1768–1782Part of the San Antonio Missions; listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Zambrano HouseSan Antonio1780One of the oldest residence in the city. It was built by Macario Zambrano whose most well known son, Juan Manuel, put down the 1811 Casas Revolt.
Dolores Aldrete HouseSan Antonio1818
Brown-Woodlief Log Housesouthwest of Washington1824Built by William S. Brown one of the "Old Three Hundred" and one of the oldest log houses left standing in Texas.
James Walker Log Houseeast of Brenham1824Built by James Walker one of the "Old Three Hundred" whose sons John and James Jr. fought in the Texas Revolution. One of the oldest log cabins left standing in Texas.
Magee-Love Log Housenear Goodrich1828
Cartwright-McCrary Housewest of Clodine1830Home of Republic of Texas legislator Jesse H. Cartwright.
Casa OrtizLaredo1830Built by Don Jose Reyes Ortiz and one of the oldest buildings in the city.
Dale-Rugeley-Sisk HomeMatagorda1830Home of the first Lieutenant Governor of Texas, A. C. Horton.
James Jordan (Jardine) Log HouseMontgomery1830
Republic of the Rio Grande CapitolLaredo1830One of the oldest building sin the city and also the capitol of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande.
Trevino–Uribe RanchoSan Ygnacio1830One of the oldest buildings in San Ygnacio.
Fisher-Sargent-Gottschalk HouseMatagorda1832Home of Samuel Rhoads Fisher, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the secretary of the Republic of Texas navy.
Sweeny-Waddy Log CabinEast Columbia1833One of the oldest remaining slave cabins in the state built by John Sweeny Sr. for the Waddy family who continued living in it after they were freed.
Col. Charles DeMorse HomeClarksville1834
Fanthorp InnAnderson1834At its core is a log cabin built by Englishman Henry Fanthorp. It was owned by Fanthorp descendants until it was sold to the state in 1977.
Varner-Hogg Plantationnorth of West Columbia1834The plantation house of Columbus R. Patton, relative of several veterans of the Texas Revolution and later of former Governor Jim Hogg whose family struck oil on the property in 1920. It is currently a Texas State Historic Site.
Winedale Stagecoach Innwest of Round Top1834
Ammon Underwood HouseEast Columbia1835At its core is an 1835 log cabin.
Burch-Cauble Housenorth of Chester1835Built by Peter Cauble and enlarged by his son-in-law and Battle of San Jacinto veteran Valentine Burch.
Cos HouseSan Antonio1835
Durst-Taylor HouseNacogdoches1835Built by the alcalde of Nacogdoches Joseph Durst.
Abram Alley Log CabinColumbus1836Oldest house in Columbus
Hutchinson-Korth Homesouthwest of Washington1836
Jenkins HouseBastrop1836Home of Sarah Jenkins whose second husband died at the Battle of the Alamo.
Old Cavitt HouseWheelock1836
Thomas Barnett Housenorthwest of Rosenberg1836Home of Thomas Barnett the former mayor of Austin, member of the Consultation, and signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
Campbell Taylor and Greenleaf Fisk HouseBastrop1836-1837Home to three Mina Volunteers from the Texas Revolution: Greenleaf Fisk, Campbell Taylor, and Jesse Holderman. The latter two fought at the Battle of San Jacinto.
Millard-Lee HouseNacogdoches1837
San Felipe ChurchSan Felipe1837It served as a town hall, school, Masonic hall, and continues to serve as a Methodist church.
Anderson HouseSan Augustine1838
Columbus Cartwright HouseSan Augustine1838
Michel B. Menard HouseGalveston1838The home of Galveston's founder, Michel B. Menard, and the oldest surviving building in the city.
Samuel May Williams HouseGalveston1838Home of one of Galveston's early settlers, Samuel May Williams, and the second oldest house in the city.
Stephen W. Blount HouseSan Augustine1838Home of a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and a soldier during the Texas Revolution.
Swedish Log CabinAustin1838Originally built on Govalle Ranch owned by S. M. Swenson and later moved to the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin.
Townsend-Bremer Housesouth of Warrenton1838
Bridges HouseRoganville1838-1840
Ezekiel Cullen HouseSan Augustine1839Home of Ezekiel Cullen a soldier of the Texas Revolution and Republic of Texas legislator.
Matthew Cartwright HouseSan Augustine1839Home of Matthew Cartwright, a Texas Revolution soldier and prosperous businessman.
Presbyterian ManseJefferson1839Oldest building in Jefferson
French Legation, TexasAustin1841Oldest building in Austin on its original site; Built to represent the French government in the new Republic of Texas
Hord Log CabinDallas1845Oldest building in Dallas
Houston1847Oldest building in Houston

See also

Notes and References

  1. Heintzelman (May 1975), National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Spanish Governor's Palace (PDF), National Park Service, retrieved June 22, 2009 and https://npgallery.nps.gov/NRHP/GetAsset/NHLS/66000808_photos
  2. Torres, Luis (1992). San Antonio Missions National Historical Park. Western National Parks Association. p. 26.
  3. Staff (June 2011). "National Historic Landmarks Survey: List of National Historic Landmarks by State (Texas)" (PDF). National Park Service. Retrieved January 23, 2018