Seward Plantation, Greek Revival mansion in Independence, Texas.
Seward Plantation is a two-story house built in 1855 almost entirely of cedar trees growing within sight of its original site, resting on a stone base. One year after completion it was rolled on large cottonwood logs three-quarters of a mile to its present location. After a second story was added it became the largest house in Washington County; barns, log cabins for slaves, a smokehouse, a corn crib and a blacksmith's shop still stand.
The property was built in 1855 by John Hoblett Seward and originally served as a cotton plantation. After the Civil War, it was converted into a cattle ranch, fundamentally reshaping its economic purpose.
The site shows the daily structure of a 19th-century plantation, with preserved outbuildings like barns, smokehouse, and blacksmith shop that reveal how people lived and worked here. The different structures scattered across the grounds convey what activities and trades kept the place running.
The property sits about one mile east of Independence near Brenham in Washington County and is accessible via Farm to Market Road 390. The location is easily reached by car and provides straightforward access for visitors wanting to explore the historic structures.
Visible traces of La Bahia Road remain on the grounds, an ancient east-west path used by Spanish explorers in the 17th century. This old route connects the property to a distant past of trade and exploration in the region.
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