McNamara-O'Conner House
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 at 502 N. Liberty in Victoria, Texas, this 1 1/2-story wood-frame house was constructed for William J. McNamara and his family, with Theodore Neitsch as contractor. It has weatherboard siding, a hip roof with gable dormers, three interior brick chimneys with corbeled caps, and a symmetrical five-bay west facade with a projecting center bay and an elliptically arched entry. A five-bay porch with chamfered posts, jig-sawn brackets and turned balusters runs across the front. The form and plan are essentially Greek Revival, with a detached kitchen, and simple Victorian trim adds decoration. McNamara served as a city councilman and dealt in cotton, wool and hides at a warehouse one block away. His descendants lived in the house until the 1960s. The property was moved from its original site and now operates as an educational museum. A carriage house or garage stands nearby, and the building is recorded in good condition. Its listing rests on architecture and commerce.
Significance in brief: The inventory form cites architecture and commerce. The house is essentially Greek Revival in form and plan, with a detached kitchen and simple Victorian trim. McNamara was a city councilman and a successful dealer in cotton, wool and hides.
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 86002509, listed December 9, 1986. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 502 N. Liberty, Victoria |
|---|---|
| County | Victoria County |
| Listed | December 9, 1986 |
| Reference number | 86002509 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Architect / builder | Contractor Theodore Neitsch; architect N/A |
| Architectural style | Georgian plan with Greek Revival and Victorian details |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as good; now used as a museum for educational purposes. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 28.80235, -97.00329 (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 86002509.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002409
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.