National Register Listing

Faison, Nathaniel W., House

822 South Jefferson, La Grange, TX

The house at 822 South Jefferson Street, La Grange, Fayette County, Texas, has long been celebrated for its ties to Nathaniel W. Faison, whose role defending the young Texas Republic gave him a mythos that has made the property an important local landmark, even though his brief ownership occurred late in his life. The building's significance has been tied predominantly to Faison's participation in the Dawson Expedition against Mexico, and little emphasis historically has been placed on subsequent owners. Recent research has uncovered more information on the later owners, including Louisiana Brown, a freedwoman who worked for Faison; and Faison's brother Peter, who lived in the house with his family and filled it with the fine furnishings that remain there today. The La Grange Garden Club purchased the property from the Faison estate in 1961, and the organization continues to maintain it as a historic house museum. The club's contributions to the documented history of the house and its preservation reflect the evolution of the historic preservation movement in the United States, as its initial focus on military deeds and significance has been expanded to include more interpretation of post-Civil War race relations and local domestic history into the early 20th century. The Faison House retains a high degree of integrity, with only minimal changes since the late 19th century, and the property remains an important local landmark.

Local significance of the building:
Architecture; Social History

Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 2010.

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.