Alonso, Frank, House
Approximate location: the National Park Service places this pin arbitrarily within the property, not at a surveyed point (stated accuracy ±12 m).
Why it's listed
Built in 1908 at 401 S. Cameron in Victoria, Texas, this two-story Neoclassical Revival house was commissioned by Spanish immigrant Frank Alonso and his wife Apalonia. Victoria architect Charles E. Praeger of Praeger & Hull designed it, and J.W. Sample built it. The wood frame dwelling has weatherboard siding, a hip roof and a symmetrical facade. A three-bay, two-story entry porch with Ionic columns, turned balusters, a denticulated frieze and a bowed balcony centers the east front. The gable pediment holds an elliptical fanlight, and the entry has a tripartite transom, sidelights and beveled leaded glass. Art glass appears in several other windows. Alonso owned a large ranch in Hidalgo County and reportedly ran the largest horse and mule trading business in South Texas, shipping thousands of animals to Spain, Cuba and elsewhere. The house was listed for its architecture and for its link to this prominent businessman. It sits in a residential area on the eastern edge of Victoria's original townsite and remains in residential use.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for its architecture and for its association with Frank Alonso, a Spanish immigrant businessman. Alonso reportedly ran the largest horse and mule trading business in South Texas and shipped thousands of animals to Spain, Cuba and elsewhere. Reviewers accepted it under criteria B and C.
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 86002585, listed December 9, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 401 S. Cameron, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | December 9, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002585 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Architect Charles E. Praeger (Praeger & Hull); contractor J.W. Sample |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Agriculture, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; present use residential. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.79401, -97.00058 (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 86002585.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110000656
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.