![\"HC1\"](\"https:\/\/www.livabl.com\/articles\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/09\/HC1-compressed.jpg\")
<\/a>Photo: Internet Archive Book Images\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nThe Physical Laboratory at the Rice Institute was completed in 1914 by contractors James Stewart & Co., Inc. Born in Springfield, Massachusetts in 1816, William March Rice was the businessman who founded Rice University in 1891. He was later killed by his valet who, along with a lawyer named Albert Patrick, forged his will to receive his money.<\/span><\/p>\n Fittingly, the Shamrock Hotel held a grand opening party on St. Patrick\u2019s Day, 1949. The 18-story building hosted hundreds of guests and about 175 celebrities, including Lana Turner and Dorothy Lamour.<\/span><\/p>\n The Harris County Courthouse was built in 1910 at a cost of half a million dollars. Designed by architecture firm Lang & Witchell, the courthouse underwent a renovation in the 1950s to install air conditioning, upgrade electrical and plumbing and add new courtrooms and elevators.<\/span><\/p>\n This photo showcases the massive construction boom of 1927 in Houston. Just a few of the buildings underway in the photo include the Lamar Hotel, the Rice Hotel, the Neils Esperon Building, the Kirby Building and the Second National Bank building.<\/span><\/p>\n Construction on the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management building wrapped up in 1974. Designed by architecture firm Pierce & Pierce, the building houses <\/span>the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, the Hilton University of Houston Hotel and Conference Center and the Continuing Education Center. The South Wing of the building opened in 1989 after the Hilton Foundation donated $21.3 million. <\/span><\/p>\n This building was named for the fifth president of the University of Houston, Philip Guthrie Hoffman. Designed by architects Kenneth Bentsen and Associates, the hall opened its doors in 1974, but it wasn\u2019t dedicated to Hoffman until 1980.<\/span><\/p>\n Washburn Tunnel connects two Houston suburbs, Galena Park and Pasadena. Completed in 1950, the tunnel was named after Harry L. Washburn, an auditor from Harris County, T<\/span>e<\/span>X<\/span>xas<\/span>.<\/span><\/p>\n The Southern Pacific Transportation Company was founded in 1865, and by the turn of the century, it had built\u00a0a large system of railroads across the US. The trains traveled all around California, Utah, Portland, Nevada, Oregon as well as through New Orleans, Texas and more.<\/span><\/p>\n The Houston Astrodome was the first multi-purpose, domed stadium in the world. Home to the Houston Astros until 1999 and the Houston Oilers NFL team until 1997, the Astrodome has been shuttered since 2008, with a number of proposals to renovate\u00a0the structure failing to stick.<\/p>\n The San Jacinto Hotel, or the Texas State Hotel, was designed by architect Joseph Finger in the 1920s. The building showcases a Spanish Plateresque style and the technological advancements that were happening in architecture during the 20th century to allow taller buildings to be constructed using steel frames.<\/span><\/p>\n The Democratic National Convention Hall, or Sam Houston Hall, was built in 1928 to serve as the venue for the Democratic convention. The building only took 64 days to build and cost a cool $200,000.<\/span><\/p>\n Construction of the San Jacinto Monument took three years from 1936 to 1939. The structure measures 570 feet and the American Society of Civil Engineers recognizes it as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.<\/span><\/p>\n The nine-pointed star on top of the San Jacinto Monument measures 34 feet and weighs 220 tons. Symbolizing the Lone Star Republic, the star took 20 days to construct.<\/span><\/p>\n The Houston Public Library has a total of 44 units including 31 neighborhood libraries, four regional libraries, three special collection libraries and four express libraries.The flagship building is located in downtown Houston and serves as an anchor for the many facilities in the city.<\/span><\/p>\n Houston’s impressive architectural landscape didn’t happen overnight.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":49,"featured_media":135854,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":"","apple_news_api_created_at":"","apple_news_api_id":"","apple_news_api_modified_at":"","apple_news_api_revision":"","apple_news_api_share_url":"","apple_news_coverimage":0,"apple_news_coverimage_caption":"","apple_news_is_hidden":false,"apple_news_is_paid":false,"apple_news_is_preview":false,"apple_news_is_sponsored":false,"apple_news_maturity_rating":"","apple_news_metadata":"\"\"","apple_news_pullquote":"","apple_news_pullquote_position":"","apple_news_slug":"","apple_news_sections":[],"apple_news_suppress_video_url":false,"apple_news_use_image_component":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11269],"tags":[],"coauthors":[10332],"apple_news_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nShamrock Hotel, ca. 1947<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: SMU Central University Libraries\/Flickr<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nHarris County Courthouse, ca. 1910<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: University of Houston Digital Library<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nMain Street from Lamar Avenue, ca. 1927<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: University of Houston Digital Libraries<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nConrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management Building, ca. 1974<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: University of Houston Digital Libraries<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nPhilip G. Hoffman Hall, ca. 1974<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: University of Houston Digital Libraries<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nWashburn Tunnel, ca. 1949<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: University of Houston Digital Libraries<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nSouthern Pacific Station, ca. 1934<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: University of Houston Digital Libraries<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nAstrodome, ca. 1964<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: University of Houston Digital Libraries<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nSan Jacinto Hotel, ca. 1926<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: University of Houston Digital Libraries<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nDemocratic Convention Hall, ca. 1928<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: University of Houston Digital Libraries<\/a><\/em><\/p>\nSan Jacinto Monument, date unknown<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: University of Houston Digital Libraries<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nSan Jacinto Monument Star, date unknown<\/h2>\n
Photo: University of Houston Digital Libraries<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\nCentral Library, ca. 1970s<\/h2>\n
<\/a>Photo: University of Houston Digital Libraries<\/a><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n