Kellum-Noble House, Houston

The Kellum-Noble House, constructed in 1847, is Houston's oldest surviving building still situated on its original foundation. Built by Nathaniel Kellum, a brickmaker who arrived in Houston in 1839, the house is notable for its Greek Revival architecture and the use of bricks made on-site from local clay.

In 1850, the property was sold to Benjamin Shepherd and subsequently to Zerviah Noble in 1851. Noble and her daughter, Catherine, operated one of Houston's earliest schools within the house, providing primary education to local children.

The City of Houston acquired the house in 1899 as part of the establishment of Sam Houston Park, the city's first municipal park. The house served various roles, including as a residence for the park keeper and briefly as the site of Houston's first zoo.

In 1954, The Heritage Society was founded to preserve the Kellum-Noble House, ensuring its place in Houston's history. The house has been meticulously restored to reflect mid-19th-century life, offering visitors a glimpse into the past.