Hancock, John, House
Why it's listed
Built in 1854 at 1306 Colorado Street in Austin, this small one-story cottage is one of the few surviving mid-nineteenth century Greek Revival vernacular houses in the city. Architect Abner Cook, who also designed the Texas Governor's Mansion, built it for John Hancock, a lawyer, planter and stock raiser. The stuccoed masonry house has three bays, a two-room plan with a central hall, a pedimented portico on two slender square columns, a panelled double door with transom, and six-over-six sash windows under a low-pitched tin roof. Hancock later served as a district judge, a delegate to the 1866 Constitutional Convention and a member of Congress. He lived here until 1858, and later owners included Capitol Hotel operator John Eisenbach and the Goodman family, who held it until 1937. A 1940 rear brick addition enlarged the plan without changing the character of the main block. The house remains a reminder of the residences that once clustered near the Capitol.
Significance in brief: The house is one of the oldest buildings remaining in Austin and one of the few surviving examples of mid-nineteenth century Greek Revival vernacular architecture there. It was designed by Abner Cook, architect of the Texas Governor's Mansion. It was also the home of John Hancock, a district judge and later a member of Congress.
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 73001977, listed April 13, 1973. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1306 Colorado St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | April 13, 1973 |
| Reference number | 73001977 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | Abner Cook |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival (vernacular) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in good condition and occupied by a long-established Austin photography business. A 1940 brick rear addition is the only major alteration. |
| Acreage | 0.3 |
| Coordinates | 30.27533, -97.74283 (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 73001977.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002312
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.