Ward House
Why it's listed
Ward House is a two-story, square frame residence at 323 West 17th Street in the Houston Heights, built before 1910. Its architect and builder are unknown. The house has a hipped roof and a two-floor front portico carried by two large Doric columns, with an entablature and pediment above. The portico overhangs a second-floor gallery that is uncovered and fitted with simple square balusters. The single front door has beveled, leaded glass sidelights and a transom, and some windows beside the portico have tracery above a single light. Asbestos siding now covers the walls. The earliest known owner was William H. Ward, an attorney. The house was recognized for its Colonial Revival styling and detail, and as a representative of the homes built for upper middle class and professional residents during the Heights' developmental years. It sits in the center of its block across from a school, on less than one acre, and was used as a rental residence at the time of the survey in 1980.
Significance in brief: The house is considered significant for its styling and elaborate detail. It is an example of the type of house built for upper middle class and professional residents of the Heights during its developmental years. Its earliest known owner was William H. Ward, an attorney.
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 83004483, listed June 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 323 W. 17th St., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83004483 |
| 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) | Physical condition is described as fair; the house is covered with asbestos siding and is used as a rental residence, with the yard noted as not well kept. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 29.80066, -95.40119 (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 83004483.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002175
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.