Post Office Building, Old
Also known as: Nacogdoches Public Library; Site No. 151
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Why it's listed
Built in 1917 at 206 E. Main Street, this brick building served as the federal post office for Nacogdoches until 1964 and now houses the municipal library. It has one and two stories, a modified rectangular plan, and cast stone and stucco as contrasting materials. The symmetrical five-bay north front has slightly projecting end bays and three round-arched openings with cast stone reliefs, along with modillions and other classically inspired details. The building sits on the old Principal Square, one of two public squares set aside by town founder Antonio Gil Ybarbo when Nacogdoches was established in 1779. The square stayed undeveloped while nearby land filled with buildings, and it was chosen for the post office because of its central location. James Wetmore is named as the architect. The building was listed for its architecture: it is one of few local examples of Classical Revival design and remains virtually unaltered despite its conversion to library use.
Significance in brief: It is nominated under Criterion C as a rare local example of Classical Revival architecture that remains virtually unaltered. It occupies the Principal Square, set aside when Nacogdoches was founded in 1779, and reflects early 20th century community development.
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 92000011, listed February 14, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 206 E. Main St., Nacogdoches |
|---|---|
| County | Nacogdoches County |
| Listed | February 14, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000011 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1917 |
| Architect / builder | Wetmore, James A. |
| Architectural style | Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals: Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | In good condition and virtually unaltered; converted from a post office (used until 1964) to the municipal public library. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | Nacogdoches Downtown Historic District |
| Coordinates | 31.60287, -94.65513 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 92000011.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002288
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.