McCan-Nave 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 N. Glass in Victoria, this two-story Neoclassical Revival house was designed by local architect Charles Praeger. Rancher James A. McFaddin had it built as a wedding gift for his daughter Emmie and her husband, James Ferdinand McCan. McCan, an Irishman who arrived in Victoria in 1896, was an artist known for paintings and murals created for the King and Kleberg families at the King Ranch. The couple divorced in 1916, and Emmie later married Royston Nave, another prominent South Texas artist. The wood frame house has weatherboard siding, a truncated hip roof with box eaves and curved-sawn brackets, and two interior brick chimneys. Two-story fluted Ionic columns support the entry portico, which has a pedimented front with brackets, dentils and festoons. Art glass, beveled leaded glass and round gable windows add detail. It was recognized for its architecture and its link to regional art, and it remains a residence in good condition.
Significance in brief: The house is significant for architecture and art. It is a local example of Neoclassical Revival design by Charles Praeger. It was built by rancher James A. McFaddin as a wedding gift for his daughter Emmie and her husband, the Irish-born artist James Ferdinand McCan, known for paintings and murals for the King and Kleberg families at the King Ranch.
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 86002555, 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 N. Glass, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | December 9, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002555 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Charles Praeger |
| Architectural style | Neoclassical Revival |
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition is good; the last bay of the east second-story porch has been enclosed and a new addition has been made. Still owned by members of the McCan family; used as a residence. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.80277, -97.00717 (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 86002555.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002417
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.