Wright, L. T., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1917 at 342 Wilkins Avenue in San Antonio's Alamosa Addition, this one-story house is a Texas example of Prairie-style design. Architect George Willis, who had worked in Frank Lloyd Wright's Oak Park studio, designed it for contractor Lawrence T. Wright and his wife Rivarde. Wright's firm probably built it. The stucco-over-tile house has a low hipped roof with broad eaves, bands of windows with some stained glass, a porte cochere, and two rear wings forming a U around a paved courtyard. Inside, painter Fred Donecker created murals and stenciling showing San Antonio scenes, including the missions and Brackenridge Park. The nomination notes that the plan and ornament depart from Wright's own principles, yet it considers the house one of the few pure Prairie-school examples in Texas. Original fixtures survive, and recent restoration reopened a back porch and replaced the shingle roof. Its office use continued at the time of listing.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is one of the finest examples of Prairie-school architecture in Texas and one of the few houses in the state reflecting Frank Lloyd Wright's early work. It remains virtually unaltered, with original fixtures, stained glass and murals by Fred Donecker. It is also an outstanding documented residential work by Willis, who had worked in Wright's Oak Park studio.
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 83003094, listed April 1, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 342 Wilkins Ave., San Antonio |
|---|---|
| County | Bexar County |
| Listed | April 1, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003094 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1917 |
| Architect / builder | George Willis, Architect; Lawrence T. Wright, probable builder |
| Architectural style | Prairie style (Prairie school) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition and virtually unaltered, with recent restoration work; occupied and used as architectural offices at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Within district | Mission Parkway |
| Coordinates | 29.39503, -98.48551 (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 83003094.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001633
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.