Austin Hall
Also known as: Austin College, Austin College Building
Why it's listed
Austin Hall is a two-story red-orange brick building crowned with an onion-domed cupola and fronted by four white Tuscan columns, standing on a hilltop at the north end of the Sam Houston State University quad in Huntsville, Texas. Designed in 1852 and finished in 1853 by builder W.M. Barrett, it first housed Austin College, a Presbyterian school, and hosted the first law school in Texas in 1855. In 1879 it became the home of Sam Houston Normal Institute, the state's first tax-supported teacher training institution, and it has served the same university lineage since. The building changed over time: a third floor with a mansard roof was added in 1882 and removed in 1927, when the south columns were added, and a 1982 fire at neighboring Old Main damaged it before a restoration finished in 1985. Students have carved their names into its soft lower bricks for generations. It was listed for its role in Texas education and as a Greek Revival example.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues it is significant under Criterion A for its long association with higher and public education in Texas, including the state's first law school and the first tax-supported teacher training institution. It is also significant under Criterion C as a good example of Greek Revival architecture. It is described as the oldest extant college building in Texas.
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 12001134, listed January 2, 2013. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1741 University Ave., Huntsville |
|---|---|
| County | Walker County |
| Listed | January 2, 2013 |
| Reference number | 12001134 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1852 - 1962 |
| Architect / builder | Barrett, William M. (Builder) |
| Architectural style | Mid-19th Century: Greek Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture, Education |
| Level of significance | State, Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Currently used for education/college; described as in very good condition with a high degree of integrity, and undergoing a restoration in 2012 that would not change the exterior. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.71742, -95.55027 (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 12001134.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002735
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.