Raymond-Morley House
Why it's listed
Built between 1874 and 1876 at 510 Baylor in Austin, this two-story house was constructed for John L. Raymond on a site then considered far west of the city. Its original form was symmetrical, with Austin buff brick walls on a limestone foundation, segmentally arched openings with limestone keystones, and a double gallery with turned columns and gingerbread brackets, all in simplified Italianate style. Later owners reshaped it. A U-curved wooden stair, probably built by cabinet maker John W. Mannings, replaced the small original stairway. About 1900 the Morley family added a gabled bay with a shingled gable and large windows in the Queen Anne manner, which allowed a double fireplace and split one room into two. Wooden additions, a connected kitchen and interior apartment alterations followed. The house is considered significant because these layers of change record the tastes and lives of successive occupants over nearly a century.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the house is significant because its changes over nearly a century record shifting owners, tastes and eras. Its original simplified Italianate form was later altered with a Queen Anne bay, a curved wooden stair and several additions. Examining these changes reveals how its occupants lived.
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 74002092, listed November 20, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 510 Baylor St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | November 20, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002092 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century |
| Architect / builder | John L. Raymond (original owner and builder of the house); stairs probably by John W. Mannings, Austin cabinet maker |
| Architectural style | Simplified Italianate with later Queen Anne additions |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Listed in excellent condition and marked as altered, on its original site; occupied and used as a private residence at the time of nomination. |
| Acreage | 0.5 |
| Coordinates | 30.27187, -97.75556 (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 74002092.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002386
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.