1884 Houston Cotton Exchange Building
historic place
The 1884 Houston Cotton Exchange Building, located in Harris County, Texas, served as the headquarters for the Houston Cotton Exchange and Board of Trade. This organization was founded in 1874 to facilitate trade in the expanding cotton market. Architect Eugene T. Heiner designed this Victorian Renaissance Revival edifice. Contractors Max Kosse and James S. Lucas built the three-story structure between 1884 and 1885. The first floor contained offices and the Houston Club. The exchange room and galleries occupied the second and third floors, with a saloon in the basement. In 1907, the building was remodeled, and a fourth floor was added. The Cotton Exchange vacated the premises in 1924. The building underwent restoration in 1973 and was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1974. It is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places. This building represents Houston's historical role as a significant cotton trading center.