Bassett Farms Cultural Landscape Report

Bassett Farms encompasses 2,350 acres of land in central Texas, historically used for livestock, corn, cotton, and peach trees. The property was donated to Preservation Texas and, through a grant from the Texas Historical Commission, MIG developed a cultural landscape report (CLR) to help them manage the farmstead. Using a detailed site history developed by Preservation Texas, MIG provided an evaluation of historical significance for the property under the National Register of Historic Places criteria, and identified contributing buildings, structures, and other features that convey the property’s unique story.

The buildings at Bassett Farms have both residential and operational uses. The operational buildings (such as barns, a cottonseed shed, a dairy, and tenant homes) reflect the farms agricultural past and are vernacular in style, evolving based on their functional qualities within the context of 19th and 20th century commercial agriculture. The Bassett House is notable for its reflection of a prominent and wealthy family in a largely rural environment, as well as for its classical revival architectural style.

Preservation Texas will transform the farm into a learning and educational center, and the CLR will inform planning decisions and prioritization for the future stabilization, preservation, restoration and/or rehabilitation of historic elements, as well as visitor use and interpretation.