McKinney-McDonald House
Also known as: McDonald-Lee House
Why it's listed
Built around 1889 for wholesale grocer Liberty S. McKinney, this two-story frame house at 926 Winnie in Galveston is a richly ornamented example of Eastlake-style Victorian design. It rises above a stuccoed brick foundation of segmental arches and features a double gallery with spindles, pendants and wheels, two-story bays with carved friezes, and an elaborate brick chimney with a lyre motif. Inside are a spiral stairway, pressed tin ceilings and an original entrance chandelier. Unlike many symmetrical Galveston houses, it uses an off-set gallery, projecting corner pavilions and a northeast wing. The McKinney family and friends sheltered here during the 1900 Hurricane. In 1905 the house passed to attorney Dominic D. McDonald, who replanted the grounds, whose live oaks date from that time, and who filled the basement when the island was raised in 1907. Its survival and detailing earned it recognition as a notable example of late nineteenth-century Galveston architecture.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as a fine example of Victorian architecture that survived the 1900 Hurricane and as an excellent, elaborately detailed example of the Eastlake style. It departs subtly from Galveston's symmetrical Victorian houses with an off-set gallery, front bay, corner pavilions and a northeast wing. Its ornamentation is unusually lavish.
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 76002030, listed May 4, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 926 Winnie St., Galveston |
|---|---|
| County | Galveston County |
| Listed | May 4, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002030 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | ca. 1889 |
| Architectural style | Eastlake |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Private residence in good condition; restoration by the owners was in progress at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 29.30703, -94.77777 (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 76002030.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002059
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.