Simon Gugenheim, a Texas native, moved to the Corpus Christi area in 1882. Some time later, he and a business partner established a dry goods company, Gugenheim and Cohn Dry Goods. Gugenheim married in 1891, and enjoyed successful petroleum investments. He built the Simon Gugenheim House sometime around 1900; it was originally located on a corner lot at 1101 North Chaparral Street, but was moved in 1926 to 1615 North Chaparral, in the middle of a block. The house was, however, designed for a corner lot, as one can see from the off-set front door. In 1977, the local Junior League moved the house again, to another corner lot.

The off-center front door of the Simon Gugenheim House

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Simon Gegunheim, a successful merchant and philanthropist, built this house sometime around 1900. Most Victorian-era homes built in the Queen Anne architectural style were destroyed in the hurricane of 1919, marking the Gugenheim House as a staple of Corpus Christi's "Old Town." The house was built on a corner lot, as evidenced by the off-center doorway. 

Simon Gugenheim House

Heritage Park, located in downtown Corpus Christi, showcases 12 historic homes and is also the location of several museums. 

Julius Lichtenstein, born in Indianola, Texas, moved with his parents to Corpus Christi in 1874. The family soon became leaders of the Southern Texas business community. The house was built in 1905 and features aspects of both Colonial Revival and Queen Anne architectural style and originally stood nine blocks south of its current location. It was moved in 1929 to Corpus Christi's Heritage Park. The house now is home to the Instituto of Cultura Hispanica which was founded in 1976 by Mr. Juan Jose Gussoni, Mr. Sergio Villarreal, Dr. Efren Suris, Dr. Jose E. Antoni, and Mr. Evaristo Tercilla. The museum seeks to provide understanding of different Hispanic cultures, and holds lectures, recitals, folklore exhibits, and festivals throughout the year. Admission to the museum is free.

The Instituto De Cultura Hispánica De Corpus Christi (the Institute of Hispanic Cultures) is a museum dedicated to promoting awareness about Hispanic cultures in the city. Founded in 1976, the institute achieves this goal through collaboration with local institutions and offers lectures, recitals in Spanish and English, theater performances, folklore displays, and hosts social gatherings. It is located in the Julius Lichtenstein House, which was built in 1905 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places 1983. The house was named a State Historical Landmark in 1976.

Julius Lichtenstein House / Instituto De Cultura Hispánica De Corpus Christi

In 1848, Charlotte King Scott Sidbury married a rancher, John Wesley Scott. After his death in 1875, Sidbury ran the ranch until she met her second husband, Mr. Edward D. Sidbury. Edward was an extremely wealthy business man, owning several lumber yards across Southern Texas. Following his death in 1881, Charlotte Sidbury inherited both his business and fortune. By 1891, she had amassed a net worth of over $200,000 (today, that would be worth over $5 million). Sidbury rose in prominence within the Corpus Christi community, and eventually became director and a stakeholder of the Corpus Christi National Bank. She invested funds throughout the community, including what is now known as the Sidbury House. The house was moved from its original location to Heritage Park in 1926. The house is also rumored to be haunted; local legend tells of the ghost of a child appearing in windows, knocking over objects, and moving dolls.

Originally built in 1893, this house was eventually owned by Ms. Charlotte King Cook Sidbury, a prominent female civic leader. The Sidbury House is included on the National Register of Historic Places and was designated a Texas Historic Landmark in 1976. The house is also listed as one of the "most haunted places in Corpus Christi." 

Sidbury House

Asa Milton French, originally of New Hampshire, came to Corpus Christi in 1882, having previously worked as a civil engineer on the Texas-Mexico Railroad. He became a prominent civil leader in the community. French was said to have been extremely particular about the materials used in the construction of his home. He individually checked each cypress and pine board for irregularities before approving their use in the home. The house is built on brick piers, and each floor features wraparound, gallery style porches. The first floor features a reception hall, a parlor, and a dining room; the second floor contains five bedrooms. In 1942, following French's death, his wife sold the house to Rafael Galvan. Galvan was the first Mexican-American police officer in Corpus Christi and founder of the League of United Latin American Citizens. The home remained in the Galvan family for 40 years, before being purchased by the city in 1982. Currently, it houses the Multicultural Center at Heritage Park and the offices of the Corpus Christi Parks and Recreation Department. The house is available to rent for events such as weddings. It was recorded as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1986. Local legend tells of an unnamed ghost who supposedly haunts the house.

Built in 1908 for the surveyor and civil engineer Asa Milton French, the Galvan House was moved from its original location on the corner of Waco and Comanche Streets to its current location in Heritage Park in 1983. It is an example of Colonial Revival architecture and was designated as a Texas Historic Landmark in 1986. 

Galvan House

The original property the Merriman-Bobys House stood upon was part of the Mexican land grant awarded to Enrique Villareal in 1831. The house was constructed in 1851 for lawyer Walter Merriman. In 1870, Merriman sold the house to rancher John Rabb. During the Civil War, Dr. Eli T Merriman used the house as a hospital, and again during the Yellow Fever epidemic. Since then, the home has changed hands several times, used as a residence, a meeting place for a local poets' society, a "party house," and a rental property. It was named a Texas Historical Landmark in 1963. In 1981, the house was donated to the City of Corpus Christi, and the The Corpus Christi Arts Council began restoration, which included moving the house to its current location near Heritage Park. It is now home to the Corpus Christi Visitor Information Center; though formal tours are not offered, guest are welcome to explore the building during business hours.

Built in 1851, The Merriman-Bobys House is the oldest structure in Heritage Park and the second oldest structure in Corpus Christi. It was moved from its original location to Heritage Park in 1982 and is an example of Greek Revival architecture. It currently houses the Corpus Christi Visitor Information Center. 

The Merriman-Bobys House

The Littles-Martin house's original location is unknown, as it was moved in 1918 to North Staples Street. The house was given to Hattie and Willis Little after their retirement by their former employer. Hattie Little is believed to have been the first Black Corpus Christie native. The house remained on North Staples Street until the death of the Littles' daughter in 1983, after which the house was again moved to its current location in Heritage Park. Restorations were funded by the National Associated of Colored People (NAACP) and the house is home to the local chapter's offices. The front rooms of the house contain exhibits on Black history.

The Littles-Martin house's original location is unknown, as it was moved in 1918 to North Staples Street. The house was given to Hattie and Willis Little after their retirement by their former employer. Hattie Little is believed to have been the first Black Corpus Christie native. The house remained on North Staples Street until the death of the Littles' daughter in 1983, after which the house was again moved to its current location in Heritage Park. Restorations were funded by the National Associated of Colored People (NAACP) and the house is home to the local chapter's offices. 

Littles-Martin House

Originally built in 1905 by James Jalufka, whose family immigrated from the Czech Republic with the Moravian religious movement, the house stood in what was known as "Old Irishtown." Jalufka was a veteran of both the Spanish-American War and World War I, and was known for his rose garden. He was also very well known in the local cotton industry.In 1944, the home was purchased by Pete and Minnie Lee Govatos, prominent members of the local Greek Community. The Govatos were not only the owners of three successful Corpus Christi restaurants, but were also instrumental in the establishment of the St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church. The house changed hands several times after it was sold by the Govatos, eventually being acquired by the city.Moved from its original location in 1987, and now features a photo collection of Southern Texas and Czech pioneers. Restoration of the house was funded by the Czech Heritage Society of South Texas.

Along with other houses now located in downtown Corpus Christi's Heritage Park, the Jalufka-Govatos House now serves as a reminder of Southern Texas' multicultural history. Originally built in 1905 by James Jalufka, whose family immigrated from the Czech Republic with the Moravian religious movement, the house stood in what was known as "Old Irishtown." In 1944, the home was purchased by Pete and Minnie Lee Govatos, prominent members of the local Greek Community. The house, moved from its original location in 1987, and now features a photo collection of Southern Texas and Czech pioneers.

The Jalufka-Govatos House

In 1908, Mary Alice Ward-McCampbell, widow of William Berry McCampbell, purchased land at 1421 Waters Street, in the "Old Irishtown" section of Corpus Christi. Sometime between 1908 and 1910, after hiring architect William. F Bowles, Ward-McCampbell oversaw the construction of her house. Its beachfront location was less than ideal when the Hurricane of 1919 hit South Texas, and the house suffered considerable flood damage. Family legend says the Ward-McCampbell came down with pneumonia during the same storm, and she died of complications in 1920. Following their mother's death, Ward-McCampbell's three sons went away to military school, though the house remained in the family until 1945. The house was separated into individual apartments and used as a rental property for a time, but came into the possession of the city and restorations began in 1984. The house has been relocated from its original position, and now sits in Heritage Park.

The Ward-McCampbell House originally stood on a beachfront Corpus Christi property but was moved to Heritage Park for restoration in 1984. The house was originally owned by Mary Alice Ward-McCampbell, and her family kept the house in their possession until 1945. The house was professionally recommended for restoration in 1980. 

Ward-McCampbell House

Referred to as the "hidden gem" of Heritage Park, the Grande-Grossman House was originally built in the 1860s for Benito Grande. Grande, an immigrant from Mexico and prominent leader of the Corpus Christi Mexican-American community. In 1925, after Grande and his family moved to Dallas, the house changed hands and was purchased by Rebbeca Grossman, whose family owned the house until 1982 when it was moved from its original location to Heritage Park. In 2015, the house became home to the Tejano Civil Rights Museum, which focuses on the Tejano and Mexican-American cultures of Southern Texas. The museum is a joint effort between Texas A&amp;M University and The League of United Latin American Citizens. The museum cites Corpus Christi as the birthplace of the Hispanic civil rights movement in 1929.

Referred to as the "hidden gem" of Heritage Park, the Grande-Grossman House was originally built in the 1860s for Benito Grande. In 1925, the house changed hands and was purchased by Rebbeca Grossman, whose family owned the house until 1982 when it was moved from its original location to Heritage Park. In 2015, the house became home to the Tejano Civil Rights Museum, which focuses on the Tejano and Mexican-American cultures of Southern Texas.

Virtual Tour of Corpus Christi's Heritage Park

Simon Gugenheim House

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Backstory and Context

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