Pope - Watson House ❖ 1912

Address: 1806 Rio Grande Street

Historic Designation: City of Austin Historic Landmark (1981)

Built circa 1911–12 by architect A.O. Watson for his sister Ruth and her husband John B. Pope, this grand three-story Classical Revival mansion features cypress Ionic columns, 14-foot ceilings, a full basement, and intricate carvings by master woodworker Peter Mansbendel. Pope, a Travis County native and civic leader, purchased the property in 1913, and the home was extensively remodeled in 1922 under Watson’s supervision, incorporating fine woodcarving, imported marble, and Wedgewood insets. The design was influenced by the Connecticut Pavilion at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition, and interior spaces were later adapted to include additional rooms. Remaining in the Pope and Watson families until 1975, the home was then restored by attorney Dan Felts, earning recognition from the Heritage Society.