mzedp, Houston was a boomtown before oil - thanks to cotton.
This mural near the old "Cotton Exchange" shows a birds eye view of what the city looked like back then in the 1930s (the era is recognizeable by the presence of the Neils Esperson Building).
The US has erased a lot of it's own history through "urban renewal", but some bits of history remain and remind us of that.
#History #Texas #Houston #USHistory
A photo showing the lobby where the mural is located. It is an ancient building with a classic decoration style. A vase with white flowers stands on a table near the center, and large art deco lamps light the scene.
A sign placed on a nearby building: "TEXAS HISTORICAL COMISSION Houston Cotton Exchange And Board of Trade Founded in 1974 to Facilitate Trade in the expanding cotton market. This victorian renaissance revival edifice, designed by Eugene T. Heiner, was built in 1884-1885 by Contractors Max Kosse and James S. Lucas. The exchange room and galleries were situated on the second and third floors, and the first floor contained offices and the exclusive "Houston Club". The basement housed a plush saloon. The structure was remodeled and the fourth floor added in 1907. The exchange vacated the premises in 1924. The building was restored in 1973. Recorded Texas Historical Landmark 1974"