Williams, Samuel May, House
Why it's listed
This one-story frame house at 3601 Avenue P in Galveston is a Greek Revival residence of the Louisiana Bayou type, built for Samuel May Williams between about 1839 and 1842, with work continuing through 1844. It has a decked hip roof with dormers, an inset front gallery with Tuscan columns, and a symmetrical center-hall plan. The house was raised six to eight feet on brick piers for protection from storm tides. Local tradition held that it was framed in Maine and shipped to Galveston, but later research suggests it was built in a standard manner. It matters for its age, as one of few surviving structures from Galveston's first years, and for its owner. Williams served as Stephen F. Austin's secretary, helped finance the Republic of Texas with his partner Thomas F. McKinney, and opened the state's first bank. He died in the house in 1858. It was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1964.
Significance in brief: It is one of the few structures from Galveston's earliest years still standing, and is typical of the Greek Revival version of the Louisiana Bayou style. Its importance also rests on its owner, Samuel May Williams, Stephen F. Austin's colonial secretary and a pioneer businessman. With partner Thomas F. McKinney, he secured loans that helped sustain the Republic of Texas government, and he became the state's first banker.
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 71000934, listed July 14, 1971. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 361 Ave. P, Galveston |
|---|---|
| County | Galveston County |
| Listed | July 14, 1971 |
| Reference number | 71000934 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1837-1840 |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (Louisiana Bayou style residence) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and altered; occupied, restricted access, and used as a museum. It is on its original site and owned by the Galveston Historical Foundation. |
| Acreage | 0.7 |
| Coordinates | 29.28790, -94.80441 (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 71000934.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7412134
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.