Baylor Female College Historic District
Also known as: University of Mary Hardin-Baylor
Why it's listed
This 30-acre campus at the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton centers on red brick Georgian Revival buildings arranged around two large commons. Founded as Baylor Female College, the school moved to Belton in 1886 after local citizens offered $31,000 and land. Its first building, Luther Hall, burned in 1929, and part of its stone arches was kept as a memorial at the campus center. In the late 1910s, Chattanooga architect Rubin M. Hunt prepared a master plan with a rectangular green, symmetrical buildings and crisscrossing walkways. Under President John Crumpton Hardy, enrollment grew from 411 in 1912 to over 1,000 by 1918, and buildings such as Wells Science Hall, Burt Hall, Ruth Stribling Dormitory, Hardy Hall, Pressler Hall and Hughes Recital Hall followed between 1920 and the 1930s. Eight resources contribute to the district, and later buildings largely follow Hunt's plan. The campus was listed for its place in women's education and its architecture and planning.
Significance in brief: The district is argued to be significant under Criterion A for its role in the development of women's colleges in Texas and in Belton's education history. It also meets Criterion C as an example of Georgian Revival educational architecture and of a Beaux-Arts-influenced college plan, laid out by architect Rubin M. Hunt.
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 90001869, listed December 26, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Bounded by King, College and W. Ninth Sts., Belton |
|---|---|
| County | Bell County |
| Listed | December 26, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90001869 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1886 - 1940 |
| Architect / builder | Rubin M. Hunt |
| Architectural style | Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a college campus; Luther Hall survives only as stabilized ruins preserved as a memorial. |
| Acreage | 30 |
| Coordinates | 31.06712, -97.46423 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 90001869.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q65557976
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.