Howard House
Also known as: Howard House Museum
Why it's listed
Built in 1848 two blocks north of the courthouse square in Palestine, Texas, this small frame house is one of the few early settler homes left in the town. Judge Reuben A. Reeves commissioned it, probably from the builder James Bunda, and Colonel George R. Howard, a merchant, bought it in 1850. Its center-passage plan is fronted by a pedimented portico with four square Doric columns and corner pilasters. The walls are weatherboard over a brick foundation. The Howard family added rooms at the rear in four phases, including a kitchen, bedrooms and a dining room, but the front facade and original core remain largely intact. The farm that once surrounded it has shrunk to a city lot. A Greek Revival specialist quoted in the nomination called it one of the best small Greek Revival houses in Texas. It was listed for its architecture, at state-level significance. It now operates as a museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an excellent and rare example of a small East Texas Greek Revival cottage, detailed on a grand scale with fine proportions. It retains most of its original materials and high integrity despite rear additions. It is rated significant at the state level under Criterion C for architecture.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 93000072, listed March 14, 1993. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1011 N. Perry St., Palestine |
|---|---|
| County | Anderson County |
| Listed | March 14, 1993 |
| Reference number | 93000072 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1848-c.1900 |
| Architect / builder | Bunda, James (builder) |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Historically a single dwelling; now used as a museum (Howard House Museum), owned by the City of Palestine. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | North Side Historic District |
| Coordinates | 31.76998, -101.62638 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary for a privately owned home: it does not by itself restrict what an owner may do with their own money, and it does not require public access. Restrictions come from local landmark or historic-district ordinances, which are separate (how they differ).
Owner-occupied houses are not eligible for the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit, which applies to income-producing buildings, but many states offer credits for homeowners. Listing also opens the door to preservation easements and to buying a plaque. Start with what listing means for homeowners, renovating a listed house and selling one.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 93000072.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q5919919
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.