McKinney Homestead, Historic limestone homestead in Travis County, United States.
The McKinney Homestead is a two-story limestone ruin measuring about twenty by forty feet, with three rooms per floor and covered porches on both levels. Archaeological work in 1974 found the stone was quarried from Onion Creek, while cypress and cedar from McKinney's land formed the framing, doors, window frames and roof shakes. The stabilized remains stand along the park's Homestead Trail.
Thomas F. McKinney built the residence between 1850 and 1852 using limestone quarried from Onion Creek and local cypress and cedar timber. The house remained occupied for nearly a century until fire destroyed it in the 1940s.
The homestead reflects how early settlers adapted to the Texas landscape by using local stone and wood for construction. Walking around the ruins, you see how families built permanent homes from what nature provided nearby.
The best way to see the ruins is to walk the Homestead Trail within McKinney Falls State Park, an easy-to-follow path through the wooded area. Wear sturdy shoes since the ground is uneven around the remains, and bring water especially during hot summer months.
The 1974 archaeological study identified the exact materials: limestone from Onion Creek, with cypress and cedar framing, doors, window frames and roof shakes. The same wood grew on McKinney's own land, so the house was built almost entirely from what the property supplied.
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