Jernigan, A. J., House
Why it's listed
Built in 1875 for Albert Jefferson Jernigan, this two-story brick house at 602 Harthan in Austin blends Greek Revival and Italianate styles. It measures 52 by 44 feet, has nine rooms, and sits on a limestone foundation under a hipped roof with a bracketed cornice. Its deep porches and gallery, the latter added in 1912, give it a Victorian character, while the plan recalls antebellum central-hall houses. Inside, shouldered door and window architraves are unusual among surviving Greek Revival homes in central Texas, and a yellow pine staircase anchors the entry hall. Jernigan was a Confederate veteran who lost an arm at Missionary Ridge, taught school, served as Travis County treasurer, and co-owned a marble works. Abner Cook, who built the Governor's Mansion, is believed to have been the builder, based on family tradition and an oral interview, though no documents confirm it. The house is one of a few mansions that once overlooked Pecan Street.
Significance in brief: The nomination presents the house as a substantial example of the shift from Greek Revival to Italianate architecture in Austin homes, with exceptional shouldered door and window architraves. Abner Cook, builder of the Governor's Mansion, appears to have been the builder, although there is no documentary evidence. It is also one of about six remaining suburban mansions overlooking old Pecan (6th) Street, and it reflects the prosperity and political return of the prewar establishment after Reconstruction.
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 83003166, listed September 22, 1983. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 602 Harthan, Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | September 22, 1983 |
| Reference number | 83003166 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1800-1899 |
| Architect / builder | Abner Cook |
| Architectural style | Transitional Greek Revival-Italianate |
| Areas of significance | Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Occupied as a private residence; condition described as excellent and very good, with modernized systems and early twentieth-century additions. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Within district | West Line Historic District |
| Coordinates | 30.27376, -97.75782 (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 83003166.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q4647927
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.