McMurry College Administration Building
Also known as: 3306
Why it's listed
Rising three stories above the McMurry College campus in Abilene, the Administration Building was completed in 1923, the year the college opened. Local architect David S. Castle designed it in the Classical Revival style, with brick walls, a flat roof and an 11-bay symmetrical front facade. A three-bay pedimented portico with giant-order Ionic columns and pilasters rises the full height of the north front, and denticulated cornices run along the pediment and around the building. It was the first completed construction on campus and became the institution's focal point. McMurry was chartered by the Northwest Texas Conference of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, and was Abilene's third church-affiliated institution of higher learning. The building is valued for its link to the college's part in establishing Abilene as an educational center in West Texas. Some windows have been replaced or filled with brick, yet it remains the least altered historic building on campus. It continues to house offices and classrooms.
Significance in brief: It is significant under Criterion A in the area of Education for its association with McMurry College and the college's role in making Abilene an educational center in West Texas. It was the first completed construction on the campus and its focal point. It is also the least altered historic building on campus and keeps much of its integrity.
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 92000209, listed March 23, 1992. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Off Hunt, McMurry College, Abilene |
|---|---|
| County | Taylor County |
| Listed | March 23, 1992 |
| Reference number | 92000209 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1923-1939 |
| Architect / builder | Castle, David S. |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still used for administrative offices and classrooms; in good condition and well maintained, with replaced and enclosed windows. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 32.42924, -99.75152 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 92000209.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110001323
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.