W. W. Browning House
Chappell Hill, Washington County, Texas
Marker Inscription
A native of South Carolina, William Westcoat Browning (1808-1871) moved to Texas in the 1850s with his wife, Elizabeth (Gilmer), and their children. This Greek Revival plantation home was built for them in 1856-58. The house is a fine example of the architectural style brought by early Texas planters from their former homes in the southern states. Outstanding features include the false graining on the interior woodwork, the widow's walk, and the two-story porches.
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
William Westcoat Browning, a native of South Carolina, moved his family to Texas in the 1850s and had this Greek Revival plantation home built in 1856–58. Its false wood graining, widow's walk, and two-story porches show the architectural tastes early planters carried west from the older Southern states. The house stands as a refined example of that transplanted style at Chappell Hill.
Why it matters
The home illustrates how Deep South planters brought their wealth, culture, and architecture to antebellum Texas, reshaping the new state in the image of the old cotton South.
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Related people
- · William Westcoat Browning
Themes & tags
Nearby & related markers
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