House at 1537 Tulane Street
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Why it's listed
Built around 1909, this square two-story frame house on Tulane Street in Houston Heights is a detailed example of Colonial Revival design. A two-story portico with a gable, pediment and lunate window rests on large fluted columns with a proper entablature. A double gallery runs across the front, with small Doric columns and square balusters on the ground floor and newels and square balusters above. The single front door has sidelights and a transom, the windows have one-over-one lights, and an exterior brick chimney rises on the side. The house was originally at 18th and Ashland, about two and a half blocks southeast, and was moved in 1970 to a new foundation after the telephone company announced plans to demolish it; the former site is now a parking lot. Survey recorders in 1980 rated its condition good and called it exceptionally sophisticated in style and unusually elaborate for its section of the Heights. It remains a residence.
Significance in brief: The nomination describes the house as an exceptionally sophisticated treatment of the Colonial Revival style. It is also noted as one of few houses of this elaborate type in this part of the Heights. Its relocation saved it from demolition planned by the telephone company.
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 83004457, listed June 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1537 Tulane Street, Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004457 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900-- |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Good condition; moved in 1970 to a new foundation several blocks from its original site; present use is residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.79928, -95.40251 (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 83004457.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001027
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.