Sebastopol House State Historic Site
P.O. Box 900
Seguin TX 78156-0900
830/379-4833
History: Sebastopol House State Historic Site, located in Seguin, Guadalupe County, is a an 1856 Greek Revival-style house sitting on 2.2 acres of its original 4-acre site. Sebastopol House is listed as a Registered Texas Historic Landmark and is in the National Register of Historic Places as a result of its unusual limecrete construction and its architectural style. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department acquired the park by purchase in 1976 from the Seguin Conservation Society and opened it to the public in September 1989 following restoration. The house is restored to its 1880 appearance. Exhibits explain the original construction, the restoration process, and the history of the house and its inhabitants. Selected LeGette and Zorn family furnishings are displayed demonstrating the tastes of middle-class families of the late nineteenth century.
Sebastopol, probably named for the Russian naval base during the Crimean War, is an unusual split-level, T-shaped residence made of limecrete (a form of concrete), and detailed with Greek Revival-style. Built by Col. Joshua W. Young between 1854 and 1856, it is architecturally and technologically significant as one of the best surviving examples of early concrete construction in the southwest. Limecrete could be made inexpensively from local materials. By 1900, Seguin had approximately 90 limecrete structures, of which fewer than 20 remain. In his Journey Through Texas (1857), Frederick Law Olmsted, famed landscape architect of New York's Central Park, noted the use of concrete in a number of local buildings as he described Seguin as "the prettiest town in Texas."
Originally occupied by the builder's widowed sister and her family, Joseph Zorn, Jr. acquired the house in 1874 for his young family. Zorn was a moving force in the modernization of Seguin. First serving as alderman and postmaster, he won election to the mayor's office in 1890. He served as mayor for 20 years, stepping down from the office in 1910. Under his leadership, the the community secured water, electric, and telephone services. Zorn's most important contributions were in the field of education. After demanding an election in 1891 to create a trustee-managed, free public school system, Seguin residents made him the president of the first board of trustees. By the end of his tenure as a trustee in 1907, the district had built five new school buildings.
Zorn family members continued to live in the house until 1952. Following Calvert Zorn's death, the house was rented for a time by a local family. By the early 1960s, the house was abandoned and scheduled for demolition. The Seguin Conservation Society bought the property and restored the facade of the house, operating it as a historic house museum until 1976. When it became apparent that major structural repairs were beyond the scope of the Society, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department stepped in to preserve the landmark. The extensive work done on the building earned TPW the San Antonio Conservation Society Award.
Activities/Events: Sebastopol's programs focus on the natural, cultural, and built environments of nineteenth century South central Texas.
Special events include: Toast to Texas every March 2 - A joint program with the Daughters of the Republic and Texas and the City of Seguin, this afternoon of patriotic speeches and music is capped by a toast to Texas' Independence. No fee.
MayDay! at Sebastopol is the site's premier event. It is a celebration of spring and the great outdoors. The event is held in May. Call the site for more specific information. No fee.
Tours/Programs/Workshops: Tours are conducted Friday, Saturday and Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; other days by appointment. Tours for groups of 10 or more, need advance reservations. Fee charged.
Exhibits - Permanent exhibits include family furnishings, archeological artifacts from the site, as well as the building process and restoration of limecrete. Temporary exhibits are displayed on a regular basis; call the park for details.
Programs and Special Focus Tours - Activities and tours are available to groups young and old by reservation. In addition, the staff at Sebastopol is happy to modify or develop tours based on your interests and available time. Tours focusing on architecture, furnishing styles, and environmental adaptations are possibilities.
School Programs and Tours - Changing exhibits focus on 19th century material culture.
Area Attractions: Nearby State Parks: Palmetto State Park and Lockhart State Park are within a 30 minute drive. Guadalupe River State Park, McKinney Falls State Park, and Honey Creek State Natural Area are only 60 miles away. Casa Navarro State Historic Site and Landmark Inn State Historic Site Bed & Breakfast are within an hour's drive. Community Self-paced Tours: Seguin is a historic community founded in 1838. There are many beautiful Victorian and turn-of-the-century homes, mostly private residences. Area tour brochures include a walking tour of downtown, a driving tour of Seguin, and a driving tour based on the book True Women. All are available at Sebastopol State Historic Site or the Chamber of Commerce office in Seguin.
True Women Tours: Group tours are available by contacting the Seguin and Guadalupe County Chamber of Commerce (830/379-6382).
Los Nogales/The Doll House/Campbell Log Cabin: Preserved and operated by the Seguin Conservation Society, these historic buildings are representative of early homes in the area. The Doll House was a playhouse built for a child of the Orphan Train. It is filled with vintage toys and dolls and can be viewed at any time. Los Nogales is an adobe structure which serves as a local history museum. It is open to the public from May to October, Sunday afternoons from 2 to 5 p.m. It may be viewed at other times by appointment.
Other Area Attractions Include: Fiedler Memorial Museum and Rock Garden at Texas Lutheran University, Juan Seguin Burial Site, The Moore House, "The World's Largest Pecan," Max Starcke Park and golf course, Wave Pool, and San Antonio Missions National Historical Parks in San Antonio.
Facilities: Sebastopol's grounds are available for weddings, receptions, reunions, parties, office picnics, etc. Family picnicking is allowed on the grounds free of charge. Texas State Park Store; Sebastopol's park store features a selection of books relative to the period of time the house was inhabited, recipe books, postcards and a small selection of affordable gift items.
Flora/Fauna: Sebastopol is an urban park featuring antique roses, 300-year-old Live Oaks, and various native trees. Wildflowers attract butterflies and a variety of regional and migratory birds.
More information on the wildlife mentioned here:
Elevation: 520 ft.
Weather: July
average high is 96; January average low is 40; average rainfall is 31.4 inches.
Schedule: Open: This is a day-use park open Friday - Sunday 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; other days by appointment. Closed Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter and New Year's Day.
Directions: Sebastopol is located at 704 Zorn Street (78155 zip code), off Alternate Route 90 (Court Street), in Seguin. The park is 30 minutes from San Antonio, 1 hour from Austin, and 3 hours from Houston.
- From San Antonio/Houston area: From Interstate 10, take State Highway 46 south one mile and turn left onto Court Street; the park is on your left, one mile.
- From Austin area: From Interstate 35, take State Highway 123 South/Seguin in San Marcos and follow Business 123 into town; turn right onto Court Street. Sebastopol is 1/2 mile on your right.
Current conditions can vary from day to day. For more details, contact the park.
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, 4200 Smith School Road, Austin, TX 78744