Edward Albert Palmer Memorial Chapel and Autry House facts for kids
|
Edward Albert Palmer Memorial Chapel and Autry House
|
|
The building's exterior in 2014
|
|
 Location in Texas
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 6221 and 6265 Main St., Houston, Texas |
|---|---|
| Area | less than one acre |
| Built | 1921 |
| NRHP reference No. | 84000388 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | October 31, 1984 |
The Edward Albert Palmer Memorial Chapel and Autry House is a special two-part building at Rice University in Houston, Texas. It is home to the James L. Autry House. This building was constructed in 1921 by the Episcopal Church. It was designed to be a community center for students at the university.
Contents
The Autry House: A Historic Hub
The Autry House has a long history. A temporary community center was first built in 1919. It was located at 6265 Main Blvd. Reverend Harris Masterson, Jr., helped set it up.
Early Days as a Community Center
In 1921, a permanent building replaced the temporary one. Architects Cram & Ferguson and William Ward Watkin designed it. For many years, Rice University did not have many public gathering spots. The Autry House became the main meeting place. It was also popular because its cafeteria served affordable food. This made it a central hub for students for several decades.
Next door, a student chapel was built in 1927. This chapel quickly grew into a full church. It became the Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church in 1929.
Growing and Changing
In the 1940s and 1950s, Rice University added more facilities. These new places offered services similar to the Autry House. Because of this, the Autry House started reaching out to new groups. It began helping students and staff at the nearby Texas Medical Center. The cafeteria continued to operate, serving meals.
The house was updated in the 1970s. An art gallery was added, showing works by student artists. In the 1980s, the house opened its doors to many community groups. These included the Houston Youth Chorus and the American Cancer Society.
A Historic Landmark
The Autry House was recognized for its importance in 1984. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This listing included the "Edward Albert Palmer Memorial Chapel and Autry House." The listing also recognized the work of several architects. These included Ralph Adams Cram, William Ward Watkin, John Fanz Staub, and Pompeo Coppini.
In 2001, the Autry House and Palmer Memorial Episcopal Church joined together. A "bridge building" was built to connect them. The church then took over running and maintaining the Autry House.
