George W. Fulton Mansion
Encyclopedia
The George W. Fulton Mansion is one of the earliest Second Empire style buildings constructed in Texas
and is one of the most important of the style in the Southwest United States still in existence. Colonel George Ware Fulton and Harriet Gillette Smith built the 3.5 story structure overlooking Aransas Bay between 1874 and 1877. The residence, dubbed "Oakhurst" by its builders, featured the most up-to-date conveniences for the time, such as indoor plumbing, central gas lighting and heating.
Felix and Gladys Boldin owned the property since the early 1960s and ran it as a tourist attraction until Felix died in 1970. Gladys sold it to the state before her death.
The mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1975. The State of Texas purchased the mansion and 2.3 acre (0.9307778 ha) of land in 1976 and opened the site to the public in 1983 as the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site. On January 1, 2008, Fulton Mansion was transferred from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
to the Texas Historical Commission
and is now operated as the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site.
Texas
Texas is the second largest U.S. state by both area and population, and the largest state by area in the contiguous United States.The name, based on the Caddo word "Tejas" meaning "friends" or "allies", was applied by the Spanish to the Caddo themselves and to the region of their settlement in...
and is one of the most important of the style in the Southwest United States still in existence. Colonel George Ware Fulton and Harriet Gillette Smith built the 3.5 story structure overlooking Aransas Bay between 1874 and 1877. The residence, dubbed "Oakhurst" by its builders, featured the most up-to-date conveniences for the time, such as indoor plumbing, central gas lighting and heating.
Felix and Gladys Boldin owned the property since the early 1960s and ran it as a tourist attraction until Felix died in 1970. Gladys sold it to the state before her death.
The mansion was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1975. The State of Texas purchased the mansion and 2.3 acre (0.9307778 ha) of land in 1976 and opened the site to the public in 1983 as the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site. On January 1, 2008, Fulton Mansion was transferred from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department is a Texas state agency that oversees and protects wildlife and their habitats. In addition, the agency is responsible for managing the state's parks and historical areas...
to the Texas Historical Commission
Texas Historical Commission
The Texas Historical Commission is an agency dedicated to historic preservation within the state of Texas. It administers the National Register of Historic Places for sites in Texas....
and is now operated as the Fulton Mansion State Historic Site.