President's House
Also known as: Texas A& M University-Commerce Heritage House
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Why it's listed
Built in 1927 on the campus of what was then East Texas State Teachers College, this two-story Georgian Revival house served as the home of the college president. Its frame structure is faced in red brick and features a square entry porch with paired Doric demicolumns, an iron balustrade on the porch roof, and a porte cochere on the east side. The state legislature appropriated $15,000 for the house after years of argument that other Texas state institutions already provided homes for their presidents. Architects George Lindsey and Roy Kilmer of Greenville designed it, and President Samuel Whitley's family moved in on December 27, 1927. The exterior remains essentially unchanged, and the original windows survive. A 1993-94 rehabilitation added a ramp and an elevator, and the former bedrooms became offices. Today the building, known as the Heritage House, receives visitors and alumni. It was listed for its role in the university's history and as a local example of Georgian Revival design.
Significance in brief: It is nominated under Criterion A for its association with the history of the university in the area of education, as the president's house the state finally funded during President Samuel Whitley's tenure. It is also nominated under Criterion C as an excellent local example of Georgian Revival architecture. The exterior remains essentially unchanged and retains a high degree of integrity.
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 01001264, listed November 21, 2001. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Circle Dr., N of Stonewall St., bet. Campbell and Bois D'Arc Sts., Commerce |
|---|---|
| County | Hunt County |
| Listed | November 21, 2001 |
| Reference number | 01001264 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-1951 |
| Architect / builder | George Lindsey & Roy Kilmer, architects |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Georgian Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition after a 1993-94 rehabilitation; now used as a reception and office building and no longer a residence for the sitting president. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 33.24259, -95.90523 (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 01001264.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001227
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.