Gugenheim, Simon, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built around 1900 as the home of Corpus Christi merchant Simon Gugenheim, this small frame cottage shows Queen Anne influence in its three-sided turret roof, decorative vergeboards, prominent bay window, roof cresting and gingerbread porch trim. Gugenheim helped found a leading drygoods firm and gave generously to civic causes. His family lived in the house until 1924. It was moved in 1926 and again in 1977, when the Junior League relocated it within the same block. After years as rental apartments, the interior was restored and adapted in 1980 for offices and public rooms, with period wallpaper and turn-of-the-century furnishings. The house survived the 1919 hurricane that destroyed much of the city's Victorian architecture, and few comparable homes remain intact. It is now regarded as unique in Corpus Christi. Together with the Sidbury and Lichtenstein houses it forms the Old Town historic area, and it serves as a reminder of the city's architectural past.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare surviving example of Victorian residential architecture in Corpus Christi, one that survived the 1919 hurricane. It is also tied to Simon Gugenheim, an entrepreneur important to the city's early commercial development. With the Sidbury and Lichtenstein houses it forms the Old Town historic unit.
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 83003155, listed March 10, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1601 N. Chaparral St., Corpus Christi |
|---|---|
| County | Nueces County |
| Listed | March 10, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003155 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1900- |
| Architectural style | Queen Anne |
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Restored and adapted for use in 1980 as offices and public areas for the Corpus Christi Area Camp Fire Girls, Inc.; listed as occupied and in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 27.80663, -97.39541 (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 83003155.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000400
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.