The Rice Hotel, Houston, Texas
historic place
The Rice Hotel, located in Houston, Harris County, Texas, stands on a site with significant historical importance. This location served as the Capitol of the Republic of Texas from 1837 to 1839, and again in 1842. A historical marker, erected in 1914 by the San Jacinto Chapter Daughters Republic of Texas, commemorates these days when Texas was an independent nation. The current Rice Hotel building opened in 1913. It was one of Houston's first multi-story buildings constructed with a skeletal steel frame. In 1922, its cafeteria became the first public room in Houston to be air-conditioned. Over its history, the Rice Hotel hosted six U.S. Presidents, including John F. Kennedy in November 1963, the day before his assassination. The Rice Hotel is a landmark that reflects Houston's development and its connection to Texas history.