Star Drug Store
Why it's listed
Located on the alley side of a downtown mall block in Galveston, this two-story stuccoed brick building has a rectangular plan and a flat roof. Carved capitals and other classical details decorate the cornice, which is topped by a small pediment. At street level, two recessed double entrance doors are flanked by display windows, with a canopy attached below the transoms. The upper story is divided by pilasters and centers on a triple window set in a segmental arch opening, flanked by round-headed windows. Tax records and Sanborn maps from 1885 and 1889 indicate the original building dates to about 1886-87 and was built by Mrs. Olympia Freybe. C.J. Michaelis established a drug store in 1890 and moved to this site in 1906, rebuilding the structure for his use. The store operated here until 1982 and was one of Galveston's oldest businesses. Both the business and the building are considered local landmarks, and the facade stands out in the mall area.
Significance in brief: The business and the building are described as Galveston landmarks, and the facade is distinguished among structures in the downtown mall area. The site housed one of Galveston's oldest businesses, a drug store, from 1906 to 1982. C.J. Michaelis founded the drug store in 1890 and moved it here in 1906, rebuilding the structure for his use.
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 84001731, listed August 14, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 510 23rd St., Galveston |
|---|---|
| County | Galveston County |
| Listed | August 14, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001731 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architectural style | Victorian commercial |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as in good condition with reversible alterations; present use is commercial. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Strand Historic District, The |
| Coordinates | 29.30420, -94.79327 (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 84001731.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q110002040
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.