Historic Sites

In 1885, the original owner built a compact, two-story brick house. A later owner, Robert Hann, played a prominent role in establishing what would become the University of North Texas. After 1905, owner B.H. Davenport doubled the size of the original house, and Ben Ivey made further changes in 1946. The result is the present large structure, which echoes Spanish mission style.

Dr. Jessie Herrick, TWU's first prominent woman physician, owned this house in 1937. During WWII, Dr. Herrick's house was used for WACS housing and training. When soldiers from a nearby base began to lease rooms, Dr. Herrick removed the south stairwell, thereby closing off access to the female tenants. This home has beautiful architectural detailing including Doric columns and pediments accenting the upper balconies and solar greenhouse.

Inspired by Texas Woman's University President L.H. Hubbard, the Little Chapel-in-the-Woods was dedicated by Eleanor Roosevelt in 1939. Under the direction of Dorothy Antoinette LaSelle, students produced the stained glass windows, light fixtures, intricate mosaics and hand-carved doors of this elegant building. The Texas Society of Architects voted it one of the 20 most architecturally significant buildings in 1983.

Founded in Denton in 1902 as the State Industrial School for Girls, TWU is now the largest women's university in the United States, with approximately 10,000 students attending the Denton campus. Old Main was constructed in 1903 in a four-story, square Greek Revival style. During its first ten years, all TWU activities took place in this building. The east and west wings were added in 1916.

R.C. Scripture built this structure in 1882 as a general store. It has also served as a grocery store, an ice cream shop and an auto parts store. The second floor has housed the Grand Orient Lodge, a domino parlor and the Carpenter's Union. While their church was being built, the Episcopalians met here from 1917 to 1920. Completely restored after a fire in 1976, the building now houses apartments and the law offices of Randall S. Boyd.

The county courthouse was built between 1895 and 1897, using locally quarried limestone, gray sandstone from Mineral Wells, and Burnet County red granite for the columns. In 1986-87, it was completely restored at a cost of over $3 million. The Courthouse contains the county commissioners' and county judge's offices, and the award-winning Denton County Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum.

Highlighting the commercial heart of Denton is the old Denton County National Bank building. The bank was built in 1913 with concrete, stone, decorative columns and marble. In 1937, as Denton was beginning to emerge from the Great Depression, it was remodeled. David Martino purchased the building in 1996. The exterior was restored and the interior remodeled. The building is slated for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.