Rice Hotel
Why it's listed
Rising eighteen stories at Main Street and Texas Avenue in downtown Houston, this E-shaped masonry hotel occupies most of a city block. Its core was designed by the St. Louis firm Mauran, Russell, and Crowell and opened in 1913 for developer Jesse H. Jones. A west wing by Houston architect Alfred C. Finn followed in 1925-26, an eighteenth floor by Staub and Rather was added in 1951, and a concrete and masonry annex by J. Russ Baty came in 1958. The site carries earlier weight: it held the first Capitol of the Republic of Texas from 1837 to 1839 and has hosted hotels since 1841. The 1913 building was among the first two in Houston with a skeletal steel or cast iron frame. Over decades it hosted political conventions, space program conferences, dances and cattlemen's gatherings. Interiors were remodeled repeatedly, leaving little original fabric. The hotel closed in 1977, and new owners were planning reuse when it was listed.
Significance in brief: The hotel was one of the best known Texas hotels from its 1913 opening and stands on the site of the first Capitol of the Republic of Texas. It was one of the first two multi-story buildings in Houston built with a skeletal steel or cast iron frame. It is tied to developer Jesse H. Jones and to notable events and architects, including Alfred C. Finn and John Staub.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 78002947, listed June 23, 1978. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | Main St. and Texas Ave., Houston |
|---|---|
| County | Harris County |
| Listed | June 23, 1978 |
| Reference number | 78002947 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1912-13 (specific dates given; 1800-1899 and 1900- also marked) |
| Architect / builder | Mauran, Russell, and Crowell (St. Louis); Alfred C. Finn (1925-26 west wing); Staub and Rather (1951 eighteenth floor); J. Russ Baty (1958 annex) |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Engineering, Politics/Government, Architecture, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Closed as a hotel in 1977 and listed as unoccupied; a new owner planned reuse of the building. |
| Acreage | 1.2 |
| Within district | Main Street/Market Square Historic District |
| Coordinates | 29.76066, -95.36292 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
For an income-producing building, listing (individually or as a contributing building in a district) is the gateway to the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit on qualified rehabilitation costs, often stackable with state credits. Work claiming the credit must follow the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and be approved in advance.
Listing does not restrict a private owner acting without federal money or permits; where federal funding or licensing is involved, Section 106 review applies.
Noted as vacant in the nomination. Nomination documents can be decades old; current status may differ. If you are considering buying an empty listed property, read the due-diligence checklist.
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 78002947.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q7233713
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.