Arnot House
Why it's listed
Built in 1848 at 306 W. Houston St. in Marshall, Texas, this raised one-story house combines a brick basement level with a clapboard-sided main floor. Its five-bay front porch has stout square columns, and the central-hall plan is entered through double doors. The form is described as a Creole or Louisiana raised cottage rendered in early Greek Revival style. Inside are hand-planed board and batten ceilings, wide pine floors, heart pine timbers, and a refined stair with walnut balusters and a mahogany rail. The house was built by blacksmith Albert M. Arnot, who arrived in Marshall from Mississippi in 1845 and ran his shop on the lot. Later owners included a cabinet maker, a merchant, a farmer and sheriff, a cobbler, and a veterinarian, so the property was almost continuously tied to trades and professions. It is one of the oldest surviving houses in Marshall, close to the courthouse square. A 1977 restoration returned its appearance, and it now holds professional offices.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents it as an excellent example of early Greek Revival architecture in Marshall and one of the city's oldest remaining houses. It sits in the oldest residential area near the courthouse square. It has almost continuously housed tradesmen or professionals who worked on the premises.
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 79002970, listed July 27, 1979. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 306 W. Houston St, Marshall |
|---|---|
| County | Harrison County |
| Listed | July 27, 1979 |
| Reference number | 79002970 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1848 |
| Architect / builder | Albert M. Arnot |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (early phase); Creole or Louisiana raised-cottage form |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored in 1977; stated to be in excellent condition and currently used for professional offices. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.54484, -94.36965 (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 79002970.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q29641807
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.