Houston, Sam, House
Also known as: Woodland
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Why it's listed
Woodland is a modest log house in Huntsville, Texas, that Sam Houston acquired and expanded in 1847. It began as a small log cabin with a mud-and-stick chimney. Houston added a second log room, an open dog-trot hallway and a front porch, then enlarged it the next spring with upstairs bedrooms, an enclosed staircase, a summer dining loggia and a rear portico with four square columns. Clapboard siding was later applied over the logs. Two log outbuildings stand nearby: a reconstructed kitchen and a restored building that served as Houston's law office. Houston lived here until 1859, during his Senate years and his election as Governor. He used the place as a refuge from the secession disputes in Washington and Austin, and he was removed from office after refusing to recognize the secession convention. The house is now state-owned, open to the public and set within a surrounding park that echoes his original estate.
Significance in brief: The house was Sam Houston's residence from 1847 to 1859, a pivotal period when he served as U.S. Senator and was elected Governor of Texas. It also served as his law office and refuge from secession-era politics. The nomination presents it as a typical Texas hill country cottage of clapboard over logs.
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 74002097, listed May 30, 1974. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Ave. L, Sam Houston State University, Huntsville |
|---|---|
| County | Walker County |
| Listed | May 30, 1974 |
| Reference number | 74002097 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1847-1859 |
| Architect / builder | Sam Houston |
| Architectural style | Texas hill country cottage, clapboard over logs, dog-trot plan |
| Areas of significance | Military, Politics/Government |
| Level of significance | National |
| National Historic Landmark | Yes, designated May 30, 1974 |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition marked excellent and altered, on its original site; state-owned, occupied and open to the public as a museum. |
| Acreage | 15 |
| Coordinates | 30.71519, -95.55286 (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 74002097.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q8032806
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.