Walker, James, Log House
Why it's listed
Built around 1824 of hand-hewn cedar logs, this double-pen log house near Brenham is among the oldest surviving Anglo dwellings in Texas. It was the home of James and Catherine Walker, who arrived as part of Stephen F. Austin's first 300 colonists and received a league of land in Washington County. Their family lived here until 1888, when the house was moved to a nearby hilltop. In 1921 it was moved again, about 250 feet, and used as a barn. Despite the moves, it keeps most of its original cedar logs, along with early doors, window frames, sheathing and flooring, and it remains on the original Walker land grant in a rural setting. A 1986 rehabilitation, based on measured drawings and physical evidence, restored the exterior to its early appearance. The house is valued for its link to early Anglo colonization of Texas and as a good example of double-pen log construction. It is one of three known surviving homes of Old Three Hundred colonists.
Significance in brief: The house was the home of James and Catherine Walker, one of Stephen F. Austin's 'Old Three Hundred' colonists, and their descendants from 1824 to 1888. It is considered one of the oldest Anglo dwellings in Texas and one of three known surviving homes of Old Three Hundred colonists. It is also a prime example of a double-pen log house with exterior and interior siding.
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 89001143, listed August 21, 1989. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Co. Rd. 80, Brenham |
|---|---|
| County | Washington County |
| Listed | August 21, 1989 |
| Reference number | 89001143 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1824-1888 |
| Architect / builder | Unknown |
| Architectural style | No Style |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Exploration/Settlement, Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Rehabilitated in 1986 using surviving original fabric and evidence of period details; it now serves as a dwelling, with the historic functions listed as single dwelling. |
| Acreage | 0.9 |
| Coordinates | 30.17360, -96.33437 (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 89001143.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6145029
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.