A Tour of Texas’ Expressive and Ambitious Architectural History

By theadmin

Think of American architecture, and you’ll likely imagine the pioneering skyscrapers of Chicago, the brownstones of New York City, or the iconic monuments of Washington, D.C. But there are few states whose architectural history — both in terms of diversity and sheer civic ambition — tells a story quite like Texas’.

From the earliest Spanish colonialist structures to the acclaimed works by some of the world’s most celebrated architects, Texas’ buildings reflect the state’s growth, resilience, ambition, and charisma. Join us as we journey down the Texas architectural trail and uncover the culture and character of our great state through the lens of its most treasured buildings.

Origins & Roots

You might say that the earliest works of Texas architecture were built by nature. Texas’ first inhabitants lived in geological cave formations and rock overhangs, often adapting these spaces with animal hides and wooden structures. Many of the Indigenous peoples of Texas were nomadic and, therefore, didn’t build permanent structures. Several Native tribes in East Texas constructed the earthen mounds now characteristic of Mississippi’s Native culture.

The first more permanent architectural influence arrived with the Spanish colonists in the 17th century. Their joint military and religious ambitions were reflected in the presidios, chapels, barracks, and missions they constructed. The most notable remaining buildings from this era are the San Antonio Missions, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and, of course, the Alamo.

After the Texas Revolution, the state opened to frontier settlement, and military units constructed simple, utilitarian forts — like the ones you can visit today in Fort Davis and Fort Stockton — that reflected both the terrain and the spirit of Western expansion.

As the frontier closed and settlements flourished, county courthouses continued this tradition of local expression. Throughout the second half of the 19th century, each Texas county constructed a totem to Texas political life that embraced the area’s unique culture and landscape. Today, you could visit every county seat in the state and never encounter two similar courthouses.

Texas’ early architecture was shaped not only by the frontier spirit but also by the people and their heritage who followed in its wake. The warm German dance halls — perhaps best captured by Twin Sisters in Blanco — brought a tradition of gathering that anchored German social and political communities. The Painted Churches, which are more expressive but still modest and graceful in their own right, were lovingly built and beautified by Czech settlers.

A Burgeoning Power

As Texas grew in wealth and prosperity, its architectural ambition rose to meet new expectations. The late 19th century saw stately Victorian residents and hotels, like Bishop’s Palace in Galveston and the Driskill Hotel in Austin, that embraced styles ranging from Romanesque to Renaissance Revival and were finished with lavish interiors.

Perhaps the most iconic building of this era of Texas architecture is the Texas State Capitol, an Italian Renaissance Revival building by architect Elijah E. Myers whose red granite walls support a gleaming white dome that stands taller than the U.S. Capitol building in Washington, D.C.

The turn of the century ushered in the birth of the oil industry and Texas’ prospects further soared. The Beaux-Arts Magnolia Hotel in Dallas, once the headquarters of the Magnolia Petroleum Company Building, boasted a gleaming neon Pegasus icon on the roof — a shimmering symbol of the state’s sky-high aspirations — from 1934 until it was taken down in 1999 and a new Pegasus took its place on Jan.1, 2000. In 1936, organizers of the Texas Centennial Exposition constructed an art deco wonderland at Fair Park, whose modernist facades tell the state’s history in a style that boldly and optimistically faced the future.

Around the same time in Austin, The University of Texas constructed its UT Tower, also an art deco gem. A few years later, in 1936, the architect Alfred C. Finn and engineer Robert J. Cummins broke ground on the San Jacinto Monument in La Porte. This stately structure brings together the triumph of the Texas Revolution and high achievement in architectural engineering.

Starchitects & Skyscrapers

Today, the architecture of Texas’ cities is dominated by a flurry of construction that exploded in the decades after WWII. As Texas boomed, its patrons looked outward for inspiration, tapping some of the world’s most famous architects to construct its museums, skylines, and residences. Legends like Frank Lloyd Wright, I.M. Pei, Renzo Piano, Philip Johnson, and Ludwig Mies van der Rohe all left their mark on our state. Here are some of the most notable buildings from this era that are essential to any Texas architectural tour.

Kimbell Art Museum (1972)
Designed by the Estonia-born architect Louis I. Kahn, the Kimbell Art Museum is lauded for its innovative use of natural light and architectural form. The museum consists of a series of parallel vaults, each capped with a cycloid barrel vault that appears to float atop light slots in the main halls, creating a sequence of light-filled spaces. Kahn’s design is rooted in classical architecture yet expresses a modernist aesthetic.

TC Energy Center (1983)
Designed by the celebrated architect Philip Johnson, the TC Energy Center is a distinguished example of postmodern architecture in downtown Houston. The design features a Dutch Gothic architectural style reminiscent of canal houses in the Netherlands. This style is highlighted by the building’s three segmented tower setbacks, each adorned with a steeply pitched roofline and crowned with spires, giving the building a unique and memorable silhouette against the Houston skyline.

Morton H. Meyerson Symphony Center (1989)
Designed by I.M. Pei in collaboration with acoustician Russell Johnson, the Meyerson Symphony Center in Dallas is a marvel of auditory and architectural design. Its exterior juxtaposes sharp geometric forms, while the interior is renowned for its outstanding acoustics. The concert hall’s shoebox shape is classic; however, the reverberation chamber and canopy system are engineering feats that enhance sound in the hall.

Nasher Sculpture Center (2003)
The Nasher Sculpture Center, designed by Renzo Piano and Peter Walker, is a serene urban retreat in the heart of Dallas. The building’s travertine walls are complemented by Piano’s signature roof made of glass and aluminum panels, which diffuse daylight to protect and illuminate the art. The center’s garden extends the gallery spaces outdoors, where the landscaping and sculptures interact in a curated dialogue.

Fountain Place (1986)
Fountain Place, a striking Dallas skyscraper by I.M. Pei and Harry Cobb, is recognized for its five-sided glass façade that captures and reflects the Texan sun. The surrounding plaza, designed by landscape architect Dan Kiley, features a calming space that brings nature into the urban environment with its dancing fountains and greenery.

Menil Collection (1987)
Houston’s Menil Collection, designed by Renzo Piano, is an exquisite example of his design philosophy — integrating structures into their surroundings. The building is low-slung and welcomes natural light, which filters through the ferro-cement leaves on the roof, casting dappled shadows. The structure is modest and unimposing, meant to be discovered rather than dominate its residential neighborhood. The Menil is a monument to modern art and architecture, representing Piano’s early exploration into museum design.

Native Voices

Throughout the modern era of Texas architecture, as many patrons looked to talents outside the state for commissions, a homegrown school of Texas architecture took root. These architects fused international influences with a thoughtful response to the history, landscape, and culture of their native state.

O’Neil Ford
A venerated architect in the mid-20th century Texas landscape, Ford is recognized for infusing modern European aesthetics with Texan elements. He kickstarted his career with an apprenticeship in Dallas and was later honored as a National Historic Landmark by the National Council on the Arts. One of his notable buildings is the Little Chapel in-the-Woods in Denton.

Frank Welch
As a pioneer of Texas regional modern architecture, Welch’s career spanned over five decades, leaving a legacy through his firm’s consistent design excellence. He was influenced early on by art and photography and later by O’Neil Ford. His most celebrated structure, the Birthday, reflects these influences in a simple glass, stone, and wood structure that plays with the light of the West Texas flats.

Gary Cunningham
Founder and president of Cunningham Architects, Cunningham has been an active Dallas-based architect since 1976. His firm has amassed over 50 design awards and is celebrated for its master planning and detailed architectural work. One of his notable projects is St. Mark’s School of Texas in Dallas.

Max Levy
After founding Max Levy Architect in 1984, Levy became known for his meticulous approach to architecture, often integrating his structures into natural settings. He takes on a few projects at a time to ensure thorough dedication to each.

Larry Speck
An accomplished architect and academic, Speck is a senior principal with Page Southerland Page and holds the prestigious W. L. Moody, Jr. Centennial Professorship in Architecture at The University of Texas at Austin. His work on the Cistern in Houston’s Buffalo Bayou Park points toward a future of Texas architecture that adapts and reuses historic structures with a sensitivity to the original Texas architect: nature.

Illustrations by Vincent Lucido.

Up next: A tour of the 10 most beautiful college campuses in Texas.