National Register Listing

Cuero Commercial Historic District

Roughly bounded by Gonzales, Main, Terrell and Courthouse, Cuero, TX

The Cuero Commercial Historic District, which extends along Main Street and Esplanade Blvd., includes virtually all of the town's old downtown area and, since the town's founding, has served as an important regional center for banking and retail operations. Only a few structures have been replaced or severely altered since World War II, and the district retains, to a remarkable degree, its early twentieth-century character. Few towns in Texas can boast such a fine collection of intact, turn-of-the-century commercial buildings, and for this reason, the district is being submitted at a state level of significance. In addition, numerous businesses that are important on a regional level have operated in the district over the years. Among the more significant are H. Runge & Co., Reuss' Drug Store, Breeden Brothers Grocery, Graves' Dry Goods and Buchel Bank. See the "Commerce" section of Item 8 of the nomination for more information about Cuero's more important retail establishments and the individuals responsible for their successful operation. A total of 75 buildings stand within the confines of the district of which 59 are classified as contributing to the historic character.

Local significance of the district:
Commerce; Architecture

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.