Littlefield House
Encyclopedia
The Littlefield House is an historic home in Austin, Texas
on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin
. The home was built in 1893 for Civil War
veteran George Littlefield
, who was a successful businessman in the bank and cattle trades and a major benefactor to UT. It was designed using the popular Victorian style
at a cost of $50,000.
While living in the house, Major Littlefield and his wife Alice made a tremendous number of contributions to the university, including funds for the Littlefield Fountain
, the Main Building
, and the Littlefield Dormitory. They also developed the Littlefield Building downtown, finished in 1912.
When Alice Littlefield died in 1935, she left the home to the university. Today it is used for storage and office space by the Office of Resource Development.
The home is located at 24th and Whitis streets. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1970.
George Littlefield had a "Deodar Cedar" (Cedrus deodara), or "Himalayan Cedar" imported from the Himalayas
and planted on the property. Littlefield even had the soil where the tree was to be placed dug up and replaced with Himalayan soil. Arguably one of the most interesting trees on campus, the approximately 35-foot tree is located on the southwest side of the house, and is readily discernible by its distinctive horizontal layers.
Austin, Texas
Austin is the capital city of the U.S. state of :Texas and the seat of Travis County. Located in Central Texas on the eastern edge of the American Southwest, it is the fourth-largest city in Texas and the 14th most populous city in the United States. It was the third-fastest-growing large city in...
on the campus of the University of Texas at Austin
University of Texas at Austin
The University of Texas at Austin is a state research university located in Austin, Texas, USA, and is the flagship institution of the The University of Texas System. Founded in 1883, its campus is located approximately from the Texas State Capitol in Austin...
. The home was built in 1893 for Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
veteran George Littlefield
George W. Littlefield
George Washington Littlefield was a Confederate officer, cattleman, banker, and regent of the University of Texas. Born in Mississippi, Littlefield moved to Texas with his family as a boy.-Early life:George W...
, who was a successful businessman in the bank and cattle trades and a major benefactor to UT. It was designed using the popular Victorian style
Victorian architecture
The term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
at a cost of $50,000.
While living in the house, Major Littlefield and his wife Alice made a tremendous number of contributions to the university, including funds for the Littlefield Fountain
Littlefield Fountain
Littlefield Fountain is a monument by Italian-born sculptor Pompeo Coppini, located on the main campus of The University of Texas at Austin in Austin, Texas....
, the Main Building
Main Building of The University of Texas at Austin
The Main Building is a structure at the center of the University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas, United States...
, and the Littlefield Dormitory. They also developed the Littlefield Building downtown, finished in 1912.
When Alice Littlefield died in 1935, she left the home to the university. Today it is used for storage and office space by the Office of Resource Development.
The home is located at 24th and Whitis streets. It 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 1970.
George Littlefield had a "Deodar Cedar" (Cedrus deodara), or "Himalayan Cedar" imported from the Himalayas
Himalayas
The Himalaya Range or Himalaya Mountains Sanskrit: Devanagari: हिमालय, literally "abode of snow"), usually called the Himalayas or Himalaya for short, is a mountain range in Asia, separating the Indian subcontinent from the Tibetan Plateau...
and planted on the property. Littlefield even had the soil where the tree was to be placed dug up and replaced with Himalayan soil. Arguably one of the most interesting trees on campus, the approximately 35-foot tree is located on the southwest side of the house, and is readily discernible by its distinctive horizontal layers.