Forsgard Homestead
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Why it's listed
Located in the 1100 block of North Fourth Street in Waco, this homestead is a complex of five buildings that has stayed in the same family for more than a century. The main house, built in 1908 for Edward and Anna Forsgard, is a 1½-story, L-plan Queen Anne dwelling with a wraparound porch, Tuscan columns and horizontal siding. Nearby stand a smaller house for Edward's father Samuel, servants' quarters converted from a hull house, and two barns. Swedish carpenters built the main house, and Samuel and Edward helped design it. Original wallpaper, drapes and family furniture remain inside, and the only notable exterior change was the replacement of open porch balusters with a solid rail around 1930. The property was listed for its well-preserved picture of rural residential life in early twentieth-century Waco, its Queen Anne architecture, and its link to Swedish immigrants and a family of merchants, inventors and cotton buyers.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the homestead is one of the most intact early twentieth-century domestic properties in Waco, preserving the rural character of residential Waco along with original furnishings and fixtures. It is also tied to the history of Swedish immigrants in Central Texas and to the Forsgard family's role in Waco's development. It is considered locally significant for community planning and development and for its Queen Anne architecture.
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 03001161, listed November 13, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1116-1122 N. 4th St., Waco |
|---|---|
| County | McLennan County |
| Listed | November 13, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03001161 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1908-1953 |
| Architect / builder | Forsgard, Samuel J. and Forsgard, Edward F. |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian/Queen Anne; No Style |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Community Planning and Development, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in the same family and in domestic use; the buildings are described as highly intact, and plans are underway to convert the property into a Swedish heritage center. |
| Acreage | 0.6 |
| Coordinates | 31.56440, -97.14018 (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 03001161.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002274
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.