Brenham High School
Also known as: Community Education; #621
Why it's listed
Built in 1927-28, Brenham High School is a two-story red brick building at 1301 South Market in Brenham, Texas. Austin architects Giesecke and Harris designed it in the Classical Revival style, which was popular in the city in the early twentieth century. The west facade has a central block flanked by stepped wings, with five monumental arched windows set between six colossal pilasters topped with Corinthian capitals. Stone stringcourses, medallions and arched entry porticoes with quoining contrast with the brick walls. Steel framing sits on a concrete foundation under a flat roof with a brick and stone parapet. The building served as the town's principal high school from 1928 to 1964, then as a middle school until the mid-1980s, and now houses a community education center. It is regarded as one of the few remaining Classical Revival buildings in Brenham and perhaps its finest institutional example, and it retains its original architectural integrity.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the building is eligible under Criterion C as one of the best local examples of the Classical Revival style, and perhaps the finest institutional example in Brenham. Its large arched windows, colossal pilasters with Corinthian capitals, symmetry and stone detailing are cited as defining features. It is also tied to the local context of community development and regional expansion from 1870 to 1941.
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 90000466, listed March 29, 1990. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1301 S. Market, Brenham |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | March 29, 1990 |
| Reference number | 90000466 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1927-28 |
| Architect / builder | Giesecke, Bertram and Harris, August W. (Austin, TX) |
| Architectural style | Classical Revival |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Described as in excellent condition with original architectural integrity; now used as a community education center. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.15872, -96.39311 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For a publicly owned building or structure, listing mainly matters when federal funds, permits or licences are involved: projects then go through Section 106 review so effects on the property are considered. Listing also strengthens applications for preservation grants and, for leased income-producing uses, can enable the federal rehabilitation tax credit.
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 90000466.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002478
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.