The Sterling Mansion at 4515 Yoakum Blvd. on the border of Houston’s Montrose and Museum District, listed for $3.75 million, The historic home was built in 1916 by Russell Brown Company and was previously the residence of Ross Shaw Sterling, the 31st governor of Texas and the co-founder of Humble Oil, an important predecessor of ExxonMobil.
In 1919, renowned architect Alfred C. Finn—who also designed the San Jacinto Monument—added a wide concrete front porch, a canopy and an inglenook, or small sitting area, to the home. The property is designated as a Houston landmark and listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The 4,546-square-foot historic mansion sits on a half-acre lot and is also known as The Sterling-Berry House, later home to Houston banker, lawyer and civic leader Joel H. Berry.
The property is suited for either office or residential use and includes parking for up to 22 vehicles. It recently underwent extensive repairs to its foundation, flooring and roof structures.
“The seller, a plastic surgeon, acquired the property for his medical practice but ultimately opted not to relocate his offices, which is why it’s now being offered for sale,” Justin Comber, associate director of investments for Marcus & Millichap, told Chron in an email on Monday. “It was previously occupied by a law firm, and originally a private residence.”
The seller has asked the listing broker to prioritize finding an owner who values the property’s architecture and historical integrity.
“Few private buildings in Houston carry as much of the city’s own story inside their walls as the Sterling Mansion,” Preservation Houston wrote in a brochure from an August 2026 member-focused open house.