Merrell, Capt. Nelson, House
Why it's listed
Near Brushy Creek just outside Round Rock, this two-story limestone house was built in 1870-71 for Captain Nelson Merrell, who hired A. Smith to replace an earlier frame residence on the same site. The coursed ashlar walls support a gable roof, with a double gallery running the full width of the front. At the center of the roof sits an unusual tall frame cupola with a balustraded Captain's Walk. Inside, a central hall is flanked by two rooms on each floor. A one-story limestone ell at the rear held the original kitchen and dining room. Merrell was born in Connecticut in 1810 and came to Texas in 1837. He served as a Texas Ranger, helped lay out the streets of Austin, and worked as a postmaster. The house has changed little, apart from Victorian balusters added around 1890 and some rear additions. A restoration was underway to return the exterior to its original appearance. A barn, a hexagonal cistern house and a ruined smokehouse also remain on the property.
Significance in brief: The nomination cites the house for its architecture: a full-width double front gallery and an unusual, tall rectangular frame cupola topped by a balustraded Captain's Walk. It is also tied to Captain Nelson Merrell, a prominent Austin landowner, Round Rock farmer, Texas Ranger and postmaster. The house has remained largely unaltered since it was completed.
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 70000778, listed October 15, 1970. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | NE of Round Rock on U.S. 79, Round Rock |
|---|---|
| County | Williamson County |
| Listed | October 15, 1970 |
| Reference number | 70000778 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 19th Century (specific date 1870-71) |
| Architect / builder | A. Smith (builder) |
| Areas of significance | Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Condition listed as excellent and unaltered, on its original site. A restoration was in progress, and the house was to continue as a private residence. |
| Acreage | 5.6 |
| Coordinates | 30.51742, -97.66156 (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 70000778.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q110002612
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.