Goodnight, Charles and Mary Ann (Molly), Ranch House
Why it's listed
Built in 1888 south of the small town of Goodnight, Texas, this white, 1-1/2-story wood house served as the home base for cattleman Charles Goodnight and his wife Molly. Goodnight had come to Texas as a boy, partnered with Oliver Loving on the Goodnight-Loving Trail, and co-founded the JA Ranch in 1876. At Goodnight he kept buffalo, elk and antelope near his headquarters. The house faces north toward the railroad and has an asymmetrical plan, many porches, multiple rooflines and Queen Anne details such as bay windows and fish-scale shingles, which were later removed. Evidence suggests the kitchen wing was an older two-room structure that Goodnight built onto. Lumber, doors and windows were bought from distant sources. Outbuildings include a milk cooler, servants' quarters and the base of a water tower. Goodnight sold the ranch in 1920, and the house was donated to the Armstrong County Museum in 2005 with 27.31 acres.
Significance in brief: The house was the home base for Charles Goodnight's ranching interests in the Texas Panhandle. Goodnight was a noted cattleman who helped establish the Goodnight-Loving Trail and co-founded the JA Ranch. The form also treats the house as a Queen Anne-style building that kept much of its historic character through additions made during the period of significance. The state certified it as significant at the statewide level.
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 07000988, listed September 20, 2007. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | US287 and 5000 Blk. Cty Rd. 25, Goodnight |
|---|---|
| County | Armstrong County |
| Listed | September 20, 2007 |
| Reference number | 07000988 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles Goodnight (built the house) |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian: Queen Anne; No Style |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Commerce, Agriculture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Current function is domestic/single dwelling with secondary structures. The property was donated to the Armstrong County Museum in 2005. Some stucco is damaged and some first-level demolition has been done. |
| Acreage | 27.3 |
| Coordinates | 35.03101, -101.18432 (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 07000988.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q54871552
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.