List of the oldest buildings in Texas

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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 Alamo Alamo pano.jpg San Antonio 1718Part of the San Antonio Missions, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Site of the Battle of the Alamo.
Alamo Mission Long Barracks Alamo 1920.jpg San Antonio c. 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 Concepcion Mission Concepcion San Antonio.JPG San Antonio 1731Part of the San Antonio Missions; listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Mission San Juan Capistrano (Texas) Mission san juan capistrano 2014.jpg south of San Antonio 1731Spanish Mission [2]
Espada Acequia Aqueduct 01.jpg south of San Antonio 1731Built by Franciscan friars in 1731 to supply irrigation water to the lands near Mission San Francisco de la Espada
San Fernando Cathedral San Fernando Cathedral.jpg San Antonio 1738–1750One of the oldest Cathedrals in the United States; the oldest Cathedral in Texas. Listed on the National Register of historic places.
Mission Espada Mission Espada Chapel2.JPG San Antonio 1745Part of the San Antonio Missions; listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Founded 1690; building current building constructed in 1745
Presidio La Bahía Presidio La Bahia.jpg Goliad 1749The best preserved Spanish presidio in the United States. [3]
Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga Goliad Mission Espiritu Santo - Flickr - pinemikey (1).jpg Goliad 1749-1758Restored early mission nearby the Presidio La Bahia.
Spanish Governor's Palace Spanish Governor's Palace July 2017 14 (garden).jpg San Antonio 1749
Ruiz House Historic American Buildings Survey, Arthur W. Stewart, Photographer June 29, 1936 NORTH ELEVATION (FRONT). - Francisco Ruiz House, Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, Brackenridge Park, HABS TEX,15-SANT,20-1.tif San Antonio 1750
Mission San Jose Mission San Jose San Antonio.JPG San Antonio 1768–1782Part of the San Antonio Missions; listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Zambrano House San Antonio 1780One 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 House East-nueva(alderete-house)2016-3.jpg San Antonio 1818
Brown-Woodlief Log House southwest of Washington 1824Built by William S. Brown one of the "Old Three Hundred" and one of the oldest log houses left standing in Texas.
James Walker Log House east of Brenham 1824Built 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 House near Goodrich 1828
Cartwright-McCrary House west of Clodine 1830Home of Republic of Texas legislator Jesse H. Cartwright.
Casa Ortiz Laredo 1830Built by Don Jose Reyes Ortiz and one of the oldest buildings in the city.
Dale-Rugeley-Sisk Home Matagorda 1830Home of the first Lieutenant Governor of Texas, A. C. Horton.
James Jordan (Jardine) Log House Montgomery 1830
Republic of the Rio Grande Capitol Rio Grande Republic Capitol.jpg Laredo 1830One of the oldest building sin the city and also the capitol of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande.
Trevino–Uribe Rancho Jesus Trevino Fort.jpg San Ygnacio 1830One of the oldest buildings in San Ygnacio.
Fisher-Sargent-Gottschalk House Matagorda 1832Home of Samuel Rhoads Fisher, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and the secretary of the Republic of Texas navy.
Sweeny-Waddy Log Cabin Sweeny-Waddy Log Cabin.jpg East Columbia 1833One 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 Home Clarksville June 2018 12 (Smathers-Demorse House).jpg Clarksville 1834
Fanthorp Inn Fanthorp inn texas 2008.jpg Anderson 1834At 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 Plantation VarnerHoggHouse (1 of 1).jpg north of West Columbia 1834The 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 Inn Winedale inn complex 2008.jpg west of Round Top 1834
Ammon Underwood House AmmonUnderwoodHouse2 (1 of 1).jpg East Columbia 1835At its core is an 1835 log cabin.
Burch-Cauble House north of Chester 1835Built by Peter Cauble and enlarged by his son-in-law and Battle of San Jacinto veteran Valentine Burch.
Cos House Historic American Buildings Survey, Marvin Eickenroht, Photographer March 10, 1934 VIEW FROM SOUTHWEST. - Cos House, 513 Paseo de la Villita, San Antonio, Bexar County, TX HABS TEX,15-SANT,4-1.tif San Antonio 1835
Durst-Taylor House Nacogdoches August 2017 46 (Durst-Taylor Historic House and Gardens).jpg Nacogdoches 1835Built by the alcalde of Nacogdoches Joseph Durst.
Abram Alley Log Cabin Columbus-tx2015-5(abram-alley(log-cabin).jpg Columbus 1836Oldest house in Columbus
Hutchinson-Korth Home southwest of Washington 1836
Jenkins House Jenkins house 1710 main bastrop.jpg Bastrop 1836Home of Sarah Jenkins whose second husband died at the Battle of the Alamo.
Old Cavitt House CAVITT HOMESTEAD LOG CABIN.jpg Wheelock 1836
Thomas Barnett House northwest of Rosenberg 1836Home 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 House Taylor-Fisk House, Bastrop, Texas.JPG Bastrop 1836-1837Home 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 House Nacogdoches 1837
San Felipe Church San Felipe 1837It served as a town hall, school, Masonic hall, and continues to serve as a Methodist church.
Anderson House San Augustine 1838
Columbus Cartwright House Historic American Buildings Survey, Harry L. Starnes, Photographer June 6, 1936 FRONT AND EAST SIDE ELEVATION. - Columbus Cartwright House, Sharp Street, San Augustine, San HABS TEX,203-SAUG,4-1.tif San Augustine 1838
Michel B. Menard House Home of Michael Branamour Menard, Galveston.jpg Galveston 1838The home of Galveston's founder, Michel B. Menard, and the oldest surviving building in the city.
Samuel May Williams House Samuel May Williams Home.jpg Galveston 1838Home of one of Galveston's early settlers, Samuel May Williams, and the second oldest house in the city.
Stephen W. Blount House San Augustine 1838Home of a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and a soldier during the Texas Revolution.
Swedish Log Cabin Swedish Log Cabin.jpg Austin 1838Originally built on Govalle Ranch owned by S. M. Swenson and later moved to the Zilker Botanical Gardens in Austin.
Townsend-Bremer House south of Warrenton 1838
Bridges House Roganville 1838-1840
Ezekiel Cullen House Cullen House (1 of 1).jpg San Augustine 1839Home of Ezekiel Cullen a soldier of the Texas Revolution and Republic of Texas legislator.
Matthew Cartwright House Cartwright House (1 of 1).jpg San Augustine 1839Home of Matthew Cartwright, a Texas Revolution soldier and prosperous businessman.
Presbyterian Manse Presbyterian Manse (1 of 1).jpg Jefferson 1839Oldest building in Jefferson
French Legation, Texas French legation 2011.jpg Austin 1841Oldest building in Austin on its original site; Built to represent the French government in the new Republic of Texas
Hord Log Cabin Hord Log Cabin Wiki.jpg Dallas 1845Oldest building in Dallas
Kellum-Noble House Kellum-Noble House (HDR).jpg Houston 1847Oldest building in Houston

See also

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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
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