Blackstone Building, Tyler, Texas
historic place
The Blackstone Building in Tyler, Smith County, Texas, is an Art Deco structure completed in 1938. Fort Worth architect Preston M. Geren designed the six-story building, which was constructed by Tyler contractor Hugh E. White. The project, costing $100,000, was financed by Tyler businessman Edmond P. McKenna. Built in response to the East Texas oil boom, the building provided much-needed office space. It housed oil companies, geologists, attorneys, and engineers. Notably, it was one of Tyler's first air-conditioned office buildings. From the late 1930s through the 1950s, the Blackstone Building also served as the Tyler Union Bus Terminal on its ground floor. While the adjacent Blackstone Hotel was imploded in 1985, the Blackstone Building remains. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2002. Today, it continues to provide office space for businesses, including the Tyler Chamber of Commerce. The Blackstone Building is a significant example of Art Deco architecture and represents Tyler's commercial growth during the oil boom era.