List of the oldest buildings in Texas

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.

Building Image Location First Built Notes
The Alamo San Antonio 1718 Part of the San Antonio Missions, listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Site of the Battle of the Alamo.
Alamo Mission Long Barracks San Antonio c. 1724 The 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 San Antonio 1731 Part of the San Antonio Missions; listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Mission San Juan Capistrano (Texas) south of San Antonio 1731 Spanish Mission[2]
Espada Acequia south of San Antonio 1731 Built by Franciscan friars in 1731 to supply irrigation water to the lands near Mission San Francisco de la Espada
San Fernando Cathedral San Antonio 1738–1750 One of the oldest Cathedrals in the United States; the oldest Cathedral in Texas. Listed on the National Register of historic places.
Mission Espada San Antonio 1745 Part of the San Antonio Missions; listed as a UNESCO world heritage site. Founded 1690; building current building constructed in 1745
Presidio La Bahía Goliad 1749 The best preserved Spanish presidio in the United States.[3]
Mission Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga Goliad 1749-1758 Restored early mission nearby the Presidio La Bahia.
Spanish Governor's Palace San Antonio 1749
Ruiz House San Antonio 1750
Mission San Jose San Antonio 1768–1782 Part of the San Antonio Missions; listed as a UNESCO world heritage site.
Zambrano House San Antonio 1780 One 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 San Antonio 1818
Brown-Woodlief Log House southwest of Washington 1824 Built 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 1824 Built 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 1830 Home of Republic of Texas legislator Jesse H. Cartwright.
Casa Ortiz Laredo 1830 Built by Don Jose Reyes Ortiz and one of the oldest buildings in the city.
Dale-Rugeley-Sisk Home Matagorda 1830 Home of the first Lieutenant Governor of Texas, A. C. Horton.
James Jordan (Jardine) Log House Montgomery 1830
Republic of the Rio Grande Capitol Laredo 1830 One of the oldest building sin the city and also the capitol of the short-lived Republic of the Rio Grande.
Trevino–Uribe Rancho San Ygnacio 1830 One of the oldest buildings in San Ygnacio.
Fisher-Sargent-Gottschalk House Matagorda 1832 Home 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 East Columbia 1833 One 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 1834
Fanthorp Inn Anderson 1834 At 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 north of West Columbia 1834 The 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 west of Round Top 1834
Ammon Underwood House East Columbia 1835 At its core is an 1835 log cabin.
Burch-Cauble House north of Chester 1835 Built by Peter Cauble and enlarged by his son-in-law and Battle of San Jacinto veteran Valentine Burch.
Cos House San Antonio 1835
Durst-Taylor House Nacogdoches 1835 Built by the alcalde of Nacogdoches Joseph Durst.
Abram Alley Log Cabin Columbus 1836 Oldest house in Columbus
Hutchinson-Korth Home southwest of Washington 1836
Jenkins House Bastrop 1836 Home of Sarah Jenkins whose second husband died at the Battle of the Alamo.
Old Cavitt House Wheelock 1836
Thomas Barnett House northwest of Rosenberg 1836 Home 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 Bastrop 1836-1837 Home 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 1837 It served as a town hall, school, Masonic hall, and continues to serve as a Methodist church.
Anderson House San Augustine 1838
Columbus Cartwright House San Augustine 1838
Michel B. Menard House Galveston 1838 The home of Galveston's founder, Michel B. Menard, and the oldest surviving building in the city.
Samuel May Williams House Galveston 1838 Home of one of Galveston's early settlers, Samuel May Williams, and the second oldest house in the city.
Stephen W. Blount House San Augustine 1838 Home of a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence and a soldier during the Texas Revolution.
Swedish Log Cabin Austin 1838 Originally 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 San Augustine 1839 Home of Ezekiel Cullen a soldier of the Texas Revolution and Republic of Texas legislator.
Matthew Cartwright House San Augustine 1839 Home of Matthew Cartwright, a Texas Revolution soldier and prosperous businessman.
Presbyterian Manse Jefferson 1839 Oldest building in Jefferson
French Legation, Texas Austin 1841 Oldest building in Austin on its original site; Built to represent the French government in the new Republic of Texas
Hord Log Cabin Dallas 1845 Oldest building in Dallas
Kellum-Noble House Houston 1847 Oldest building in Houston

See also

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References

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  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