Bivins, Miles and Myda, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1930 on nearly a full block in Amarillo's Bivins Addition, this 2 1/2-story red brick house was designed by Dallas architect Henry Bowers Thomson for Miles and Myda Bivins, whose wealth came from ranching, petroleum and real estate development. The design draws on Tudor Revival hallmarks: steeply pitched gables clad in wood shingles, elaborate chimneys with decorative pots, false half-timbering, diamond-pane windows, a Tudor arched entry and a parapeted cast stone bay window. Inside, carved wood moldings, coffered ceilings, a cast stone fireplace and a freestanding stair survive, along with much of the original furniture supplied by Marshall Field of Chicago. A garage with staff quarters and a greenhouse, both original, stand behind the house. The property was recognized for its architecture at the local level. It is Thomson's only known work in Amarillo and shows how oil-boom prosperity shaped the city's southwest residential suburbs in the 1920s and 1930s.
Significance in brief: The house is nominated under Criterion C at the local level as an exceptional example of Tudor Revival architecture in Amarillo. It retains a high level of integrity, with almost no structural change since 1930. It is also Thomson's only known work in Amarillo and reflects the wealth generated by the Panhandle's ranching, oil and real estate boom.
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 92001306, listed October 2, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2311 W. 16th Ave., Amarillo |
|---|---|
| County | Potter County |
| Listed | October 2, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92001306 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1930 |
| Architect / builder | Thomson, Henry Bowers |
| Architectural style | Tudor Revival |
| Criteria |
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| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used as a single dwelling; the form reports no structural changes since 1930 apart from modest kitchen updating. |
| Acreage | 3 |
| Coordinates | 35.19698, -101.86359 (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 92001306.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107320629
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.