Barker House
Why it's listed
Located at 121 East 16th Street in Houston Heights, this two-story frame house dates to about 1908. Its plan is square, with a hipped roof and a central dormer whose pediment is detailed. A porch wraps around to one side on two levels, supported by Doric columns, with square balusters on both floors. The front door has sidelights and a transom, and the large windows have tracery and one-over-one lights. Walls are clapboard and the roof is composition. A one-story modern patio addition at the side is hidden by a lattice fence. The house sits on a large, well-kept corner lot with several trees and bushes. Its significance comes from Mayor David Barker, who made it his home in 1911-12. He was active in real estate dealings in the Heights and in the area's civic and social activities, and he served six years as mayor of Houston Heights. The house is still used as a residence.
Significance in brief: The house became the home of Mayor David Barker in 1911-12. He was active in Heights real estate dealings and in the area's civic and social life, and served six years as mayor of Houston Heights. Its areas of significance are given as architecture and politics/government, at the local level.
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 84001754, listed May 14, 1984. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 121 E. 16th St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | May 14, 1984 |
| Reference number | 84001754 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-- |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival influence |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Physical condition is rated excellent; the house is still used as a residence, with a modern side patio addition hidden by a latticework fence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.79974, -95.39724 (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 84001754.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4860955
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.