First Baptist Church
Why it's listed
First Baptist Church is a large brick church at 218 West 13th Street in Amarillo, built in 1929-1930 to designs by local architect J. Carlander. It rises two stories over a basement, with a projecting central section on the east facade, a bell tower at the northeast corner, and rounded arches framing the three double-door entrances and tall side windows. Light stone moldings contrast with buff brick walls. The interior is the main reason for its recognition. The auditorium has a curved seating plan, a U-shaped balcony and a coffered ceiling, with high-relief arches painted in turquoise, orange and metallic gold. The vestibule and rear sanctuary carry softer, Art Nouveau-like plant patterns and marbled finishes, painted by the Schnoor Company. The congregation had earlier worshipped in a frame church of 1890 and a brick building of 1907-1908. The new church cost over $550,000 and was dedicated in 1930, despite financial strain during the Great Depression.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the church is important for the decorative painted ornamentation of its interior, which is rarely seen in surviving buildings of the more numerous Protestant denominations. The painted work was done by the Schnoor Company. The church also reflects the growth of Amarillo's Baptist congregation, which reached about 2000 members by dedication in 1930.
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 83003158, listed June 21, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 218 W. 13th St., Amarillo |
|---|---|
| County | Potter County |
| Listed | June 21, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003158 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1929-1930 |
| Architect / builder | Architect J. Carlander; builder unknown; interior craftsman Schnoor Company |
| Architectural style | No particular style; simple massing common in the 1920s and 1930s, with rounded arches as the dominant ornamental theme |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture, Religion |
| Level of significance | State |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 35.20115, -101.83991 (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.
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 83003158.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107330108
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.