Houston Post-Dispatch Building
historic place
The Houston Post-Dispatch Building, located in Harris County, was completed in 1926. Oil magnate Ross S. Sterling, an entrepreneur, built this 22-story skyscraper for his newspaper, the Houston Post-Dispatch. Designed by Carl Staats, the building featured classical revival decoration and a tripartite structural steel frame. It was recognized as a leading example of early twentieth-century Texas skyscraper architecture. In 1925, it was considered the largest and most expensive structure in Houston. The building housed the newspaper's offices, Houston's first radio station KPRC, and the U.S. Weather Bureau. By 1932, it became known as the Shell Building and served as Shell's Texas headquarters until 1970. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002, the building was restored and reopened as the Magnolia Hotel in 2003. This site illustrates Houston's commercial and architectural growth during the 1920s.