Petroleum Building, Houston, Texas
historic place
The Petroleum Building, a historic place in Houston, Texas, is located in Harris County. This twenty-one-story structure was completed in 1927. It was commissioned by Joseph S. Cullinan, a prominent figure in the Texas oil industry. The building was designed by New York architect Alfred C. Bossom, in collaboration with Maurice J. Sullivan and Briscoe & Dixon of Houston. Its architectural style is a stepped-back Art Deco, featuring eclectic Mayan and Spanish Colonial Revival detailing. Originally, the Petroleum Building was intended to house the American Republics Corporation, a Cullinan holdings company, and its various subsidiaries. It served to consolidate numerous companies involved in Houston's expanding petroleum industry. This building reflected the significant demand for office space during the city's oil boom. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2019. The Petroleum Building is historically significant for its distinctive architecture and its role in the development of Houston's oil industry.