Kennedy Bakery
Also known as: La Carafe
Why it's listed
Standing at 813 Congress Street across from Houston's original commercial district at Market Square, this narrow two-story brick building dates to about 1860 and is regarded as the oldest structure in Houston still on its original site. It was built for John Kennedy, an Irish-born baker who arrived in Houston in 1842 and became a prominent merchant. A fire in August 1860 destroyed his holdings, and the present building is believed to be part of his reconstruction. Legends say it served as a trading post, stage stop and slave market, but research indicates it housed his bakery. Its load-bearing brick facade has corbelled parapet detailing, wooden pilasters at the door and segmental arches above the upper windows. Later it held drug stores until 1932, then various businesses, and it stayed in the Kennedy family until 1970. Wrought iron grillwork added in the 1960s is removable. The building now operates as a pub.
Significance in brief: The nomination holds that it is generally acknowledged as the oldest structure in Houston still on its original site. It is also tied to John Kennedy, a respected pioneer baker and merchant who supported Houston's first Catholic church. It is described as a fine example of 19th-century commercial architecture with elaborate brick detailing at the cornice.
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 79002963, listed July 27, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 813 Congress St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | July 27, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002963 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | Simple mid-19th century vernacular commercial building |
| Areas of significance | Commerce |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is listed as good. The building is in use as a pub and restaurant, La Carafe, and was reinforced in the 1960s. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Main Street/Market Square Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.76307, -95.36173 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 79002963.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q19881202
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.