Temple Beth-El
Why it's listed
Temple Beth-El is a wooden synagogue at 208 S. 15th Street in Corsicana, Texas, constructed between 1898 and 1900 for a newly chartered Reform congregation. Its front facade is flanked by twin three-story towers capped with painted tin onion domes, and ogee-arched windows repeat around the building, suggesting the shape of a candle. The nomination describes it as a modest rural example of the Moorish Revival synagogues common in European cities and in the United States until the 1920s. Two similar East Texas synagogues, in Marshall and Palestine, have been demolished. The building also records the story of Corsicana's Jewish community, which arrived with the railroad in 1871, peaked during the 1920s oil boom, and then declined. By 1982 fewer than ten families remained and the congregation disbanded. The Navarro County Historical Society bought the deteriorated building that year, restored the exterior, and began rehabilitating the interior for community use.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that the building is one of the few surviving examples of Moorish Revival architecture in Texas and the Southwest, notable for its twin towers topped with onion domes. It also commemorates Corsicana's once thriving Jewish community, whose Reform congregation worshipped there for more than eighty years.
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 86003687, listed February 3, 1987. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 208 S. Fifteenth St., Corsicana |
|---|---|
| County | Navarro County |
| Listed | February 3, 1987 |
| Reference number | 86003687 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1898-1900 |
| Architectural style | Moorish Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed as vacant at the time of nomination. The Navarro County Historical Society acquired it in 1982, exterior restoration was largely complete, and interior rehabilitation was ongoing. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.08953, -96.46856 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
Religious properties are listed for their architectural or historical significance, not their religious use. Listing is honorary and does not restrict the congregation's use of the building. The federal rehabilitation credit is generally unavailable unless part of the building is income-producing; some state programmes and preservation grants do cover religious buildings. Federal funding or permits trigger Section 106 review.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
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 86003687.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7698453
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.