Hilliard Hall
Why it's listed
Hilliard Hall is a brick building on A.G. Cleaver Street at Prairie View A&M University, completed in 1939 as the student dining hall. Its symmetrical wings, block massing and modest geometric detailing suggest the Moderne style, and its rambling plan held a cafeteria, private dining room, kitchens and storage across two floors and a basement. Architect Frederich Ernst Giesecke, a Texas A&M educator, designed it with the campus mechanical engineer. It is one of three surviving Giesecke works on the campus. The hall mattered because the college tried to feed itself with vegetables, meats, poultry and dairy products raised on site, and the dining hall processed that produce while giving students practical vocational experience. It was later named for Roby W. Hilliard, an early graduate and campus administrator. A 1979 renovation removed the kitchen equipment and turned the space into classrooms and offices, including telecommunications facilities. The building was recognized for its role in the growth of the university and in Black education in Texas.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the hall reflects the expansion of the student body and campus facilities that followed curriculum changes in the 1930s. It served as a dining facility, a channel for farm products grown on campus and a place for student vocational experience. It is tied to the university's development and to Black educational heritage, and it is one of three surviving campus works by architect Frederich Ernst Giesecke.
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 99000614, listed June 3, 1999. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | A.G. Cleaver St., building #0537, Prairie View |
|---|---|
| County | Waller County |
| Listed | June 3, 1999 |
| Reference number | 99000614 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1939 - 1948 |
| Architect / builder | Giesecke, Frederich Ernst (Architect) |
| Architectural style | Moderne |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Education, Black |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still in educational use. A 1979 renovation removed the kitchen facilities and converted the building to classroom and office space, including telecommunications offices, and an elevator was added for accessibility. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.09540, -95.98034 (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 99000614.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q107317528
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.