Gilbert, Samuel and Julia, House
Also known as: The Gilbert Homestead; The Old Rock House
Why it's listed
Built in 1855-56 for physician Samuel H. Gilbert and his wife Julia Ann, this limestone rubble farmhouse in Farmers Branch is described as perhaps the oldest recognizable house still on its original site in Dallas County. The one-story main block has a seven-bay front gallery, a hipped shingle roof and a central dogtrot hall. Gilbert bought 307 acres of a Peters Colony headright, treated patients across the area, farmed and raised cattle and sheep. Later owners remodeled the house in 1939, adding a rear wing with bedrooms and a garage. The City of Farmers Branch acquired the property in 1981 and restored the main block between 1983 and 1985, removing the 1939 changes to the dogtrot and reusing the wing for museum operations. The 2.2-acre lot also holds a light scatter of artifacts from about 1850 to 1930, which an archaeologist judged to indicate intact buried deposits. The house is listed for its architecture and its archaeological potential.
Significance in brief: The nomination calls it perhaps the oldest recognizable house still on its original site in Dallas County and a well-restored Early Texas rock house with modest Greek Revival influence. It meets Criterion C for architecture and Criterion D for its archaeological potential, since the yard holds intact artifacts and features from about 1850 to 1930. The 1939 addition is treated as the major 20th-century part of the house's evolution.
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 88002063, listed November 10, 1988. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2540 Farmers Branch Ln., Farmers Branch |
|---|---|
| County | Dallas County |
| Listed | November 10, 1988 |
| Reference number | 88002063 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1850-1930s (specific dates 1855-56/1939/1983-85) |
| Architect / builder | Restoration: Keith Downing/JPF, Dallas; original architect/builder not stated; the 1939 addition's architect is not known |
| Architectural style | Early Texas stone building with modest Greek Revival influence; dogtrot plan |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Owned by the City of Farmers Branch, restored 1983-85, and operating as a historic-house museum in a city park; condition listed as excellent. |
| Acreage | 2.2 |
| Coordinates | 32.91813, -96.89084 (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 88002063.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000808
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.