Wood, John Howland, House
Why it's listed
Overlooking Copano Bay in Bayside, this two-story weatherboarded mansion was built between 1875 and 1877 for Major John Howland Wood, a Texas Revolution veteran who became one of the state's most successful cattlemen and helped found Rockport. Local contractors Viggo Kohler and Hugo Heldefels built it of longleaf pine shipped from Florida. Its plan and massing are Greek Revival, with a two-tier projecting portico, while bracketed cornices, window hoods and a balustraded roof deck add Italianate detail. The interior keeps a central-hall plan, and an open-string staircase echoes the exterior galleries. The house is considered significant as a rare coastal mansion and one of the least-altered country mansions of its era in Texas. After Wood left in 1900, it was sold, raffled and converted to a seaside hotel that operated for more than 50 years. By the time of listing it was a private residence under gradual restoration, with its historic fabric largely intact.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is a rare coastal Texas mansion and one of the most substantial and least-altered country mansions of the post-Civil War era in the state. It combines Greek Revival massing with High Victorian Italianate detailing. It also symbolizes the prestige of Wood, a pioneer, Texas Revolution veteran, town founder and major cattleman.
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 83003811, listed October 13, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1 Copano Bay St., Bayside |
|---|---|
| County | Refugio County |
| Listed | October 13, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003811 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Contractors: Viggo Kohler, Hugo Heldefels |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival with Victorian Italianate detailing |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in fair repair and undergoing gradual restoration by its owner, who uses it as a private residence; it was formerly a hotel for more than 50 years. |
| Acreage | 2 |
| Coordinates | 28.09246, -97.21278 (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 83003811.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q60763249
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.