Downtown Houston's Legendary Rice Hotel Houses More Than History

By Lucia Rodriguez

On the eve of Nov. 21, 1963, President John F. Kennedy had dinner at The Rice Hotel.  The next day Kennedy would be assassinated while riding in a car as it passed a grassy knoll near Dealey Plaza in Dallas.
The legendary Rice Hotel in Houston now the site of The Post Rice Lofts and is home to some Houstonians. This historic landmark is located downtown on 909 Texas Ave. and is listed in the National Register of Historical Places.
“The historical component has huge appeal to potential leassees,” said Monica Duarte, property manager.   
The Capitol of the Republic of Texas from 1837 to 1842, which housed the Texas Congress from 1837 to 1839, was located on this ground site.  
The original building was razed in 1881 and the five-story Capitol Hotel was built. The building was purchased in 1883 by the founder of Rice University, William M. Rice, and it was renamed the Rice Hotel.  
Rice University then sold the building to Texas politician and businessman Jesse H. Jones. The building was demolished and a new 17-story hotel was built. It opened in 1913 boasting the first air-conditioned public room in Houston.
The Rice Hotel was the site of many public events and notable guests including the 1928 Democratic Convention. In 1928, an Anti-Prohibition faction called The AntiDry Movement made its headquarters at the Rice Hotel.   
The hotel’s underground Rice cafeteria was famous for its delectable Rice Pudding.  The Flag Room was known for fine dinning and was frequented by powerbrokers and oilmen.  
Presently the Flag Room and cafeteria are used as storage facilities.  The basement pool that was concreted for many years has been refurbished. Adjacent to the pool is a workout area with state-of-the-art fitness equipment.  
The still-functioning, elegant Crystal Ballroom, with its high ceiling, murals, and classic chandeliers, is still the site of many weddings and social functions.
“The Crystal Ballroom maintains a very active social calendar and is a very popular social activity venue,” Duarte said.        
Residents of the lofts now socialize on the once famed “Rice Roof,” where past hotel patrons danced to live performances from the Tom Dorsey Big Band.  The modern-day conveniences located near the Rice Hotel include Azuma, Sambuca, Chipotle restaurants and Sunset Body Works beauty spa.         
“I work downtown and love downtown,” said Travis Baker, a Rice Lofts resident. “The Rice Lofts are close to work and have so many amenities available and the historical value is just incredible.”