National Register of Historic Places listings in Hays County, Texas facts for kids

Location of Hays County in Texas

Welcome to Hays County, Texas! This area is full of amazing places that tell stories about the past. Many of these special spots are listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This is like a national list of important buildings, areas, and sites that are worth protecting.

Historic Treasures in Hays County, Texas
Former listings
Images for kids

Historic Treasures in Hays County, Texas

What is the National Register of Historic Places?

The National Register of Historic Places is the United States' official list of buildings, districts, objects, sites, and structures that are important in American history. When a place is added to this list, it means it has special historical, architectural, or archaeological value. It helps to protect these places and teach people about their past.

Exploring Hays County's Historic Sites

Hays County has many unique places on this list. They include old homes, important public buildings, and even ancient sites. Let's explore some of them!

Famous Homes and Buildings

Many homes in Hays County are on the list because of their unique architecture or the important people who lived there.

Barber House in San Marcos: This house was added to the list in 1983. It's a great example of old homes in the area.
Caldwell House in San Marcos: Another historic home, listed in 1983. It shows how people lived long ago.
Cape House in San Marcos: Also listed in 1983, this house adds to the rich history of San Marcos.
Cock House in San Marcos: This building, listed in 1973, is one of the older entries from Hays County.
John R. Dobie House in Wimberley: Listed in 1992, this house has a special story in the Wimberley area.
Cora Jackman Donalson House in Kyle: Added to the list in 2010, this house is part of the "Rural Properties of Hays County" collection.
Episcopalian Rectory in San Marcos: This building, listed in 1983, was once a home for church leaders.
Goforth-Harris House in San Marcos: Listed in 1983, it's another example of the beautiful historic homes here.
Heard House in San Marcos: This house, listed in 1983, shows the classic style of homes from its time.
Augusta Hofheinz House in San Marcos: Listed in 1983, this home has a unique history.
Walter Hofheinz House in San Marcos: Also listed in 1983, it's another important Hofheinz family property.
Hutchison House in San Marcos: Listed in 1983, this house is near Texas State University.
Johnson House in San Marcos: Added in 1983, this home is part of the city's historic charm.
Kone-Cliett House in San Marcos: Listed in 1983, it's a well-preserved piece of the past.
James C. Lane House in Wimberley: This house, listed in 2010, is a key part of Wimberley's history.
Pettey House in San Marcos: Listed in 2008, this house is a more recent addition to the list.
Katherine Anne Porter House in Kyle: This house, listed in 2004, was home to a famous American writer.
Ragsdale-Jackman-Yarbough House in San Marcos: Listed in 1983, this house has a long name and a long history.
Rylander-Kyle House in San Marcos: Added in 1983, this home is another important part of San Marcos's heritage.
Smith House in San Marcos: Listed in 1983, this house adds to the collection of historic homes.
Williams-Tarbutton House in San Marcos: Also listed in 1983, it's a beautiful example of older architecture.
Winters-Wimberley House in Wimberley: Listed in 2002, this house is a significant landmark in Wimberley.

Important Community Places

Beyond homes, many public buildings and community spaces are also recognized for their historical value.

Belger-Cahill Lime Kiln in San Marcos: This old lime kiln, listed in 1983, shows how materials were made long ago.
Bunton Branch Bridge near Kyle: This bridge, listed in 2002, is an example of historic engineering.
Cemetery Chapel, San Marcos Cemetery in San Marcos: This chapel, listed in 1983, is a peaceful and historic place.
Farmers Union Gin Company in San Marcos: Listed in 1983, this building was important for processing cotton.
Fire Station and City Hall in San Marcos: This building, listed in 1983, served as a vital community center.
First United Methodist Church in San Marcos: This church, listed in 1974, has been a spiritual home for many generations.
Fort Street Presbyterian Church in San Marcos: Listed in 1984, this church is another historic place of worship.
Green and Faris Buildings in San Marcos: These buildings, listed in 1983, were important for businesses.
Hardy-Williams Building in San Marcos: Listed in 1983, this building also played a role in the city's commerce.
Hays County Courthouse in San Marcos: This courthouse, listed in 1980, is a central part of the county's government and history.
Hays County Jail in San Marcos: The old jail, listed in 1983, tells a story about law and order in the past.
Kyle City Hall in Kyle: This building, listed in 2002, has served as the city's government center.
Main Building, Southwest Texas Normal School (now Texas State University) in San Marcos: Known as Old Main, this grand building was the first on the university campus. It was built in 1903 and is a great example of Victorian Gothic style. It was listed in 1983.
McKie-Bass Building in San Marcos: Listed in 1983, this building is part of the historic downtown area.
Moore Grocery Company in San Marcos: This building, listed in 1983, was once a busy grocery business.
Onion Creek Post Office and Stagecoach House in Buda: Listed in 2002, this site was a key stop for mail and travelers.
San Marcos Milling Company in San Marcos: This old mill, listed in 1983, was important for processing grains.
San Marcos Telephone Company in San Marcos: Listed in 1983, this building was central to early communication.
Simon Building in San Marcos: This building, listed in 1983, is another historic commercial spot.

Unique Historical Spots

Some places are listed because they represent a larger historical area or a very specific type of site.

Belvin Street Historic District in San Marcos: This district, listed in 1983, includes several blocks of historic homes and buildings.
Camp Ben McCulloch in Driftwood: Listed in 2004, this camp has a long history as a gathering place.
Cen-Tex Wool Mill Historic District in San Marcos: This district, listed in 2005, highlights the area's past in wool production.
Downtown Buda Historic District in Buda: This district, listed in 2003, protects the historic heart of Buda.
Dripping Springs Downtown Historic District in Dripping Springs: Listed in 2013, this area preserves the historic center of Dripping Springs.
Harry Freeman Site in San Marcos: This site, listed in 1978, is an archaeological location. Its exact address is kept secret to protect it.
Isham Jones Good Homestead near Austin: Listed in 2004, this homestead shows early farm life.
Hays County Courthouse Historic District in San Marcos: This district, listed in 1992, includes the courthouse and surrounding historic buildings.
Claiborne Kyle Log House near Kyle: This log house, listed in 1981, is a very old and important structure.
Michaelis Ranch near Kyle: Listed in 2003, this ranch represents the area's agricultural history.
Ruskin C. Norman Site (41 HY 86) in San Marcos: Another archaeological site, listed in 1978, with a restricted address for protection.
Dr. Joseph M. and Sarah Pound Farmstead in Dripping Springs: This farmstead, listed in 1995, shows what early farms were like.

Why are these places important?

These historic places help us understand how people lived, worked, and built communities in the past. They are like open-air museums that teach us about architecture, local customs, and important events. Protecting them means we can continue to learn from them and share their stories with future generations.

Former listings

Sometimes, a place is removed from the National Register. This can happen if it is destroyed or loses its historical importance.

Negro School in San Marcos: This school was listed in 1984 but was removed from the list in 1987.

Images for kids

The historic Barber House in San Marcos.
The old Belger-Cahill Lime Kiln.
A building in the Belvin Street Historic District.
The Bunton Branch Bridge.
The Caldwell House.
The chapel at Camp Ben McCulloch.
The Cape House.
The Cemetery Chapel in San Marcos.
The Cock House.
The John R. Dobie House.
The Cora Jackman Donalson House.
A view of the Downtown Buda Historic District.
A building in the Dripping Springs Downtown Historic District.
The Episcopalian Rectory.
The Farmers Union Gin Company building.
The old Fire Station and City Hall.
The First United Methodist Church.
The Fort Street Presbyterian Church.
The Goforth-Harris House.
The Green and Faris Buildings.
The Hardy-Williams Building.
The Hays County Courthouse.
A view of the Hays County Courthouse Historic District.
The old Hays County Jail.
The Heard House.
The Augusta Hofheinz House.
The Walter Hofheinz House.
The Hutchison House.
The Johnson House.
The Kone-Cliett House.
The historic Kyle City Hall.
The Claiborne Kyle Log House.
The James C. Lane House.
Old Main at Texas State University.
The McKie-Bass Building.
The Moore Grocery Company building.
The Onion Creek Post Office and Stagecoach House.
The Pettey House.
The Katherine Anne Porter House.
The Dr. Joseph M. and Sarah Pound Farmstead.
The Ragsdale-Jackman-Yarbough House.
The Rylander-Kyle House.
The San Marcos Milling Company.
The San Marcos Telephone Company building.
The Simon Building.
The Smith House.
The Williams-Tarbutton House.
The Winters-Wimberley House.

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National Register of Historic Places listings in Hays County, Texas Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.