McKinney Homestead
Also known as: McKinney House and Mill Complex District
Why it's listed
Southwest of Austin, on the north bank of Onion Creek near McKinney Falls, lie the ruins of a mid-nineteenth-century homestead and mill. The district includes a two-story cut-limestone house that burned in the early twentieth century, two stone cisterns south of the house, and the remains of a mill cut into limestone bedrock, with a millrace, dam footings and machinery mounts. Thomas F. McKinney, born in Kentucky in 1801, came to Texas as one of Stephen F. Austin's early colonists. His firm, McKinney and Williams, supplied men, money and ships to the Texas cause during the revolution. He later served in the legislature and moved to Onion Creek around 1850 to 1852, where enslaved labor built his house, stone fences and the area's first flour mill. The Civil War and cotton speculation ruined him. Archeological digs in 1974 revealed intact foundations, a wheel pit with turbine parts, and large unexcavated deposits. The ruins were stabilized in 1976.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the site is significant for its association with Thomas F. McKinney, a Texas colonist, merchant and financier of the Texas revolution who later served in the legislature. It is also noted for its agriculture, industry, engineering, commerce, political and architectural associations, including the first flour mill in the area. Archeological work shows substantial deposits remain that could reveal how the homestead functioned.
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 74002093, listed October 16, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | SW of Austin between TX 71 and U.S. 183, Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | October 16, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002093 |
| Resource type | District |
| Areas of significance | Industry, Commerce, Agriculture, Historic - Non-Aboriginal, Engineering, Black, Politics/Government, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | The house burned in the early twentieth century and is in ruins, with about 40% standing at the time of nomination. Its walls were stabilized in 1976 and the district lies within McKinney Falls State Park, which opened in 1976. It is owned by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.18908, -97.72063 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
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 74002093.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6801972
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.