Offenhauser Insurance Building
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Why it's listed
Rising three stories on a unique pie-shaped lot in the heart of downtown Texarkana, this yellow brick commercial building has a street on all four sides. Built in 1901, it absorbed the walls of a late 1870s two-story bank, and the earlier window rhythm was carried into the rebuilt south facade. Inset arcaded walkways, a small round turret with a conical tin roof, and a molded tin cornice give it character. A former second-floor gallery on the east side served as a reviewing stand for parades and civic events. The bank failed within a few years, and in 1894 the building was sold to Frederick Wilhelm Offenhauser, whose insurance firm operated from it and gave the building its name. The nomination describes it as architecturally modest but visually pleasing, a pivotal downtown landmark among the city's oldest structures. The owning company planned to give it to the city for restoration as a museum.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a pivotal, visually pleasing landmark in the center of Texarkana's downtown, among the city's oldest structures and closely tied to its development. It is also linked to F. W. Offenhauser's long-running insurance firm. Architecturally it is described as not innovative but a distinctive early twentieth century commercial building.
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 71000922, listed February 25, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | State Line Ave. and 3rd St., Texarkana |
|---|---|
| County | Bowie County |
| Listed | February 25, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000922 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1901 |
| Architectural style | Early twentieth century commercial structure |
| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as occupied and in fair condition, altered; the owner company was in the process of presenting it to the city of Texarkana to be restored and used as a museum. |
| Acreage | 0.2 |
| Coordinates | 33.42217, -94.04318 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
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 71000922.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q28837738
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.