i_am_jim

In style of great European churches. Begun 1867 when Father Querat bought old Harris County Courthouse to get bricks for the foundation; completed 1874. Sacristy and steeple were added 1881-1884 from plans of Nicholas J. Clayton, a leading Texas architect of the late 19th century.

Lumber, oil, and ranching tycoon James Marion West and his wife, Jessie Dudley, hired Houston architect Joseph Finger to design this 17,000-square foot house as headquarters for their 30,000-acre ranch. Built in 1929-30, it is an excellent example of the Italian renaissance revival style. It features exceptional ironwork by Berger & Son, classical pediments and arched windows.

This is the rear of the mansion. It's the view seen from the highway -- NASA Road 1

You're right. My mistake. It is 75 floors.

I'm not aware of the maintenance man but there have been reported sightings Mellie Esperson herself in the building as well as a feeling of her presence in the hallways

The Neils -- Esperson Building is the only complete example of Italian Renaissance architecture in Downtown Houston. Designed by theater architect John Eberson, the Esperson building was built in 1927. It's elaborately detailed with massive columns, great urns, terraces, and a grand tempietto at the top, similar to one built in the courtyard of San Pietro in Rome in 1502. It was the tallest building in Houston until the Gulf Building was built two years later.

Neils Esperson's wife Mellie Esperson had the building constructed for her husband, Niels, a real estate and oil tycoon, and his name is carved on the side of the building, above the entrance, in large letters.

This 60 story building rises 1,049 feet from ground level. The tower has 1.98 million square feet of gross building space.

JPMorgan Chase Tower is the tallest composite building in the world. The office tower is clad in pale gray polished granite, stainless steel, and gray glass. The western corner of the tower has been sheared off to form a five-sided structure. The western facet of the tower is formed by an 85 foot wide free span of glass that ascends the full height of the building. The tower is positioned on a one-acre plaza to create a large public space. The area is ornamented with patterned granite paving, extensive landscaping, including a water garden and Bradford Pear trees, and a major sculpture. This area serves as an important open space for downtown Houston. JPMorgan Chase Tower rests on a full city block in the northwest quadrant of the downtown area, bounded by Capitol, Texas, Travis and Milam Streets.

This building, which was constructed in 1909-1910, served as the fifth Harris County Courthouse. Designed by Charles Erwin Barglebaugh, an associate in the prominent Dallas architectural firm of Lang and Winchell, the building features classical revival styling. Outstanding details include the domed roof, ornate central projections, or risalits, with Corinthian columns, and elaborate ornamentation of terra cotta, limestone and masonry. Building materials include pink Texas granite and light brown St. Louis brick.

This was the tallest building west of the Mississippi when built and remained tallest in Houston for more than thirty years.

John Allen's (the primary founder of Houston) wife's home was on this location. She's the person who named Houston, Texas.

The Auditorium Hotel was built in 1926 for Houston investor Michele DeGeorge (1850-1927), who came to the United States from Italy in 1881. Designed by architect Joseph Finger (1887-1953), the building features Italian renaissance detailing in the upper stories. Its location in the center of Houston's theater district and its association with the now-razed city auditorium have contributed to its significance as a Houston landmark during the city's commercial development.

Hogg Building

Harris County Criminal Justice Center Franklin @ San Jacinto

No. I haven't been inside. Is it open to visitors during the week?

By the way I got notice of your first post but not your second.

Thank you. Now I know somebody actually looks at these pictures.

St. Paul's United Methodist Church Main @ Binz

At the beginning of the 20th century, members of Houston’s Methodist community worked toward organizing a new congregation on what was then the burgeoning south end of town. In December 1905, individuals met at the J.O. Ross family home and held Christmas Eve services at the city auditorium. The congregation officially organized on January 14, 1906 with 153 charter members. Bishop Joseph Key preached the first sermon and suggested the congregation adopt St. Paul’s as its name. The Ross family gave lots at the corner of Milam and McGowen streets for a new building. Designed by R.D. Steele and consecrated in January 1909. The structure reflected a Grecian design with a dome reminiscent of Byzantine architecture.

The church grew along with the city of Houston, and in the late 1920s, members launched a campaign to raise money for new facilities. Jesse H. Jones, Walter Fondren and J.M. West, Sr. each contributed $150,000, and the church hired noted architect Alfred C. Finn to design a new building at the corner of Main and Binz streets. The Neo-Gothic styling features a cruciform plan on a steel-frame structure with limestone cladding. Stained glass windows from the previous church building were incorporated into the new structure, and the impressive tower houses bells also brought from the church’s original sanctuary.

St. Paul’s church members support an array of outreach, worship, education, mission, music and caring services to the community. At the turn of the 21st century, the church is a spiritual and social community center, as well as a long-standing Houston institution.

Trinity Episcopal Church Main @Holman

Established in 1893, Trinity Episcopal Church acquired this site in 1910. Construction of the sanctuary, designed by architect Ralph Adams Cram, began in 1917 and was completed in 1919. Features of the Gothic revival structure include a basilica plan with an offset buttressed and pinnacled tower, and art glass windows. Five rectors of the parish became bishops in the Episcopal church. Trinity Church continues to serve a large active congregation.

This building is in the National Register of Historic Places

Sweeney, Coombs & Fredericks Building. Main @ Congress

This late-Victorian commercial building with a 3-story corner turret and Eastlake decorative elements was designed by George E. Dickey in 1889. Evidence indicates that the 1889 construction may have been a renovation of an 1861 structure built by William A. Van Alstyne and purchased in 1882 by John Jasper Sweeney and Edward L. Coombs. Gus Fredericks joined the Sweeney and Coombs Jewelry firm before 1889.

This building is in the National Register of Historic Places

First Presbyterian Church of Houston Main @ Binz

Organized March 31 (Easter Sunday), 1839, in Senate Chamber, Capitol of Republic of Texas, Main at Texas, by the Rev. Wm. Youel Allen, missionary from the United States, and eleven members. James Burke was elected ruling elder. Services of worship and a Sunday School (begun on May 13, 1838) continued in Capitol while church building was being erected on site (NW corner, Main and Capitol) given by the Allen family which had founded Houston.

This church was the first house of worship completed in Houston. Dedicated on Feb. 13, 1842, it was used for meeting of other denominations and groups. Here the House of Representatives met in summer of 1842, and President Sam Houston addressed a joint session of Congress. Thus the congregation repaid the Republic's hospitality of 1838-1839.

Original church burned 1862; a brick structure was built in 1867, and served until the erection of a large stone edifice, Main at McKinney, 1894. Fire destroyed part of that building in 1932. The present church was occupied in 1948 and dedicated Sept. 12, 1954. Through the years, this church body has furnished many outstanding leaders to the businesses and professions of state and nation.