McBride Ranch House (1971)

(Built 1903) A pioneer settler quarried Alibates dolomite from the canyon rim to build this house, mortared with lime burned on the site. Wood in ridge beams, door and window lintels, ice house, and corral came from old railroad bridge timbers salvaged from Canadian River. The floors are of masonry mortar. The builder, David Nichols McBride, was born Oct. 22, 1849, in Henry County, Ill.; married Abigail Catharine Stringer at Fort Sill, Indian Territory, July 2, 1876; and settled near village of Amarillo Sept. 17, 1887--just 18 days after Potter County was organized. The McBrides had seven children. This site (in "Watered Homestead") and three alternate "Dry Grazing" school lands sections were situated in center of the famous LX Ranch, owned by the American Pastoral Company of London. Patent for his land was issued to McBride in 1901, upon proof of three years' occupancy. The homestead section cost $1.50 an acre, with payments extending over 40 years at 3% interest. The grazing land cost $1.00 an acre. McBride died June 26, 1928, in Needles, Calif.; heirs sold this property in 1963 to the Canadian River Municipal Water Authority. It is now administered by the National Park Service, Sanford Recreation Area, Lake Meredith. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1971.

McBride Ranch House is a historical marker in Amarillo, Potter County, dedicated in 1971. It is one of 49 historical markers documented in Potter County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 73 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 35.5359, -101.7178 near Amarillo. The nearest cataloged historic site is McBride Ranch House (historic place), about 0.8 miles away. Others within a short drive include The Canadian River, Gould, Dr. Charles Newton, and Fort Smith-Santa Fe Trail Marcy Route, 1849.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5375003274. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.