The Rice (fka Rice Hotel), Houston

The Rice Hotel, now known simply as The Rice, is a historic landmark in downtown Houston. The original structure, the Capitol Hotel, was built in 1881 on the site of the former Capitol of the Republic of Texas. In 1886, William Marsh Rice, founder of Rice University, purchased the hotel and renamed it the Rice Hotel. After his death in 1900, the property was bequeathed to Rice University.

In 1911, the Rice Hotel was demolished to make way for a new building. The new Rice Hotel opened on May 17, 1913, as a 17-story steel-framed structure featuring modern amenities such as air conditioning and a rooftop deck. In 1925, a third wing was added, increasing the number of rooms to over 1,000 and creating the building’s current E-shaped configuration.

The Rice Hotel hosted numerous notable guests, including President John F. Kennedy. On the evening of November 21, 1963, Kennedy attended a gathering of the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) in the Grand Ballroom. During the event, he and First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy were greeted by Mexican American World War II veterans.

The following day, November 22, 1963, President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, making his visit to Houston just hours before the tragic event. Today, a plaque at The Rice commemorates his final visit to the city.