Thomas House

Constructed: 1873

Address: 1510 San Antonio Street

Roy L. Thomas, a prominent Austin architect from 1909 to 1963, designed many notable buildings but never built his own home, instead remodeling an early 1900s cottage he lived in from 1921 and later used as his office. The house, originally at 2812 Hemphill Park, was moved to 1510 San Antonio Street in 2001 and remodeled in 2013 to serve as offices for public relations firms, preserving many original architectural details while updating for modern use. Thomas was a creative inventor who also designed innovative features like a natural gas air conditioning system for his home and a waitress light-up system for a local diner. His family lived and worked in the house, which expanded over time to accommodate his growing architectural practice and children, with clients often visiting the home-office after hours. After Thomas’s death in 1968, the house changed hands but was rediscovered and preserved by his grandson, maintaining its historical significance.