square feet The historic home had 26,387 square feet in total, including the attic, main and second levels, and basement. The entire historic space is 33,619 square feet, with subsequent additions of an enclosed breezeway, indoor pool, and squash court. It has been reported that the house was at one time the largest single-family home in America. Now it is the third largest private residence in Houston after re-development. It takes up about half a city block and contains 50 rooms and 51 bathrooms. There are also three kitchens, ten living rooms, six dens, and two playhouses. Reynolds married his first wife, Elizabeth Hancock Reynolds, in 1831. She was a daughter of John Hancocke and Mary Ann Clark Hancocke. Together they had seven children. In 1842, when Reynolds was 30 years old, he left Mississippi to move to Texas. He arrived in Austin on March 2, 1842, and soon after began building his house. He named it "Rough House" because it was mostly built out of local lumber. In 1845, after marrying Nancy Wilson Cary, she took charge of selling off parts of Rough House. The couple had four children together - Nancy, Elizabeth, John, and Henry. In 1852, after finishing work on his new house, Reynolds moved back into Rough House.