Aynesworth-Wright House
Why it's listed
Built around 1852 northeast of Austin, this one-story house was a two-room, dog-run residence in vernacular Greek Revival style, with brick end chimneys, a full-length front gallery and horizontal wood siding. Isaiah Aynesworth, a cabinet maker and traveling Baptist preacher, built it for his family. In 1855 it was sold to Dr. Joseph Wright, an early Austin physician and surveyor of the University of Texas site, whose family lived there until 1940. Later owners leased it, and in the 1960s it became a day-care nursery, which led to an enclosed gallery and other changes. Scheduled for demolition in 1977, it was bought by a savings association and moved in 1978 to Research Boulevard. Rehabilitation kept the plank floors, siding, hardware and hand-hewn roof logs, rebuilt the chimneys with original brick, and replaced later rear additions. It is valued as one of the oldest surviving pioneer homes in the Austin area.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues that it is one of the oldest remaining homes in the Austin-Travis County area. It is significant for its architectural style and building techniques, and its history represents two types of early Austin pioneer: a cabinet maker and itinerant Baptist preacher, and a physician and surveyor.
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 80004156, listed September 27, 1980. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | N of Austin at 11693 Research Blvd., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | September 27, 1980 |
| Reference number | 80004156 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Isaiah H. Aynesworth |
| Architectural style | Vernacular Greek Revival |
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture, Religion, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Moved in 1978 and rehabilitated for adaptive reuse as a branch office of a savings association after standing vacant and deteriorating; most original fabric was retained. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.41806, -97.74584 (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 80004156.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q14710321
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.