Sterne, Adolphus, House
Also known as: Hoya Library and Museum
Why it's listed
Built in 1830 by Adolphus Sterne, this modest ell-shaped frame house on piers sits on a small lot near the old Nacogdoches plaza, with a simple Victorian porch on its west front. A small servants' house stands behind it, and a white picket fence surrounds the lot. Sterne, a German Jew born in Cologne, settled in Nacogdoches in 1826 and became one of the wealthiest men in the colony and the Republic. He helped finance the Texas Revolution, raised volunteer companies, served as postmaster, and later sat in the Texas House and Senate. He enlarged the house in the 1840s and 1850s, adding a dining room and a library, and his diary records frequent entertaining and boarders. Sam Houston and Bishop Jean Marie Odin were visitors, and Houston was reportedly baptized there. The front was altered around 1885. Today the property houses the Hoya Library and Museum, and its long occupation offers archeological potential.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of Adolphus Sterne, a German Jewish immigrant who became one of the wealthiest men in Texas and helped finance the Texas Revolution. He also served as an alderman, postmaster and legislator. The house hosted visits from Sam Houston and Bishop Jean Marie Odin, and the site has been occupied almost continuously since 1830, giving it archeological potential.
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 76002053, listed November 13, 1976. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 211 S. Lanana St., Nacogdoches |
|---|---|
| County | Nacogdoches County |
| Listed | November 13, 1976 |
| Reference number | 76002053 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 (specific date 1830; historically significant dates 1830-1852) |
| Architect / builder | Adolphus Sterne |
| Areas of significance | Historic - Non-Aboriginal |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition rated excellent/good; in use as the Hoya Library and Museum, owned by the City of Nacogdoches. The front facade was altered around 1885. |
| Acreage | 1 |
| Within district | Sterne-Hoya Historic District |
| Coordinates | 31.60021, -94.65087 (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 76002053.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7611558
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.