McDonald Hall
Also known as: 749
Why it's listed
McDonald Hall is a three-story, rectangular brick building at 2083 North Second Street in Abilene. It was completed in 1924 as a boys' dormitory for Abilene Christian College, now Abilene Christian University. The front elevation has nine bays, brick string courses, paired wood windows with mullions, and a brick parapet on a corbeled cornice that hides the flat roof. Its modest, symmetrical detailing refers to Classical Revival design. Historic photographs show a tile pent roof once crossed the parapet, though the date of its removal is unknown. The hall was built in the last year of President Jesse P. Sewell, who is credited with 12 buildings on the old campus; only this hall and the former gymnasium remain. The college moved to a new campus east of the city in 1929, and the building was later converted to apartments. It was listed for its link to early education in Abilene and remains in good condition.
Significance in brief: The building is nominated under Criterion A in the area of Education. It is a tangible link to the early history of Abilene Christian College and one of only two historic buildings still standing on the college's original grounds. It was built during the final year of President Jesse P. Sewell's tenure.
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 92000219, listed March 23, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 2083 N. Second St., Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | March 23, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000219 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1924-1929 |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition, retaining integrity, and recently rehabilitated into an apartment building; current use is multiple dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.45147, -99.74361 (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 92000219.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q108073320
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.