Celaya, Augustine, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1904 at 504 East St. Francis Street in Brownsville, this eleven-room, two-story residence was planned by its owner, attorney Augustine Celaya, and built by A. Rendon. Walls of hand-made adobe brick, 13 inches thick and covered in natural cement, insulate against both heat and cold. Several wings, arched windows, shutters and a dentiled cornice were arranged to catch tropical breezes. The L-shaped plan centers on a curved, free-standing staircase with an Eastlake railing, and the entrance porch joins three polygonal bays. Brick outbuildings behind the house include a garage and laundry building with servants' quarters above. Celaya was a bilingual lawyer, a county official and president of the Rio Grande Railroad, which his father had organized. The house is described as the climax of Brownsville's local masonry tradition, which mixed American and Mexican design elements. It remained with the original family and retains much of its original character and furniture.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is an unusual Victorian-period design suited to Brownsville's tropical climate and the culmination of the city's local masonry tradition, which blended American and Mexican elements. It also reflects Augustine Celaya's role as a lawyer, public official and president of the Rio Grande Railroad. It is one of the few such houses in the city to remain with its original family and retain original furnishings.
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 86000726, listed April 11, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 504 E. Saint Francis St., Brownsville |
|---|---|
| County | Cameron County |
| Listed | April 11, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86000726 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architect / builder | A. Rendon - Planned by Augustine Celaya |
| Architectural style | Victorian-period architecture in the local Brownsville masonry tradition, with Eastlake staircase railing |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as unoccupied and in private ownership; condition is given as good and altered, with a porch removed in the 1960s and other changes over time. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 25.90342, -97.50518 (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.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 86000726.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001744
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.