Lamar-Calder House
Why it's listed
Built in 1860 on the banks of the Brazos River in Richmond, Texas, this two-story wood frame house is the only surviving structure from the plantation estate of Mirabeau B. Lamar, third president of the Republic of Texas. Construction began in January 1860, shortly after Lamar's death, and was carried out by his widow, Henrietta Maffitt Lamar. The house has a hall-and-parlor plan, a side gable roof with two front dormers, and a full-width porch on six box columns with double brackets, a Greek Revival feature. Lamar's daughter Loretto and her husband S.D. Calder later lived there, and the property passed through several owners, including the Hendee family, who held it for much of the twentieth century. A kitchen addition at the rear was rebuilt during a recent restoration, which used the tax credit program. The house now serves as a law office. It was listed for its architecture, as a good local example of a simple vernacular farmhouse with modest Greek Revival influences.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a good local example of a mid-19th century vernacular home with Greek Revival influences, listed under Criterion C for architecture. It is also the only remaining historic structure on Mirabeau B. Lamar's plantation estate. It retains a high degree of integrity after a recent restoration.
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 05000244, listed March 30, 2005. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 915 Front St., Richmond |
|---|---|
| County | Fort Bend County |
| Listed | March 30, 2005 |
| Reference number | 05000244 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1860 |
| Architect / builder | unknown |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival (vernacular with Greek Revival influences) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored through the tax credit program after purchase in 2002; now used as a law office. |
| Acreage | 6.6 |
| Coordinates | 29.58030, -95.75724 (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 05000244.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q38251939
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.