Rothko Chapel
National Register of Historic Places

Rothko Chapel

Houston, Harris County, Texas
Listed
August 15, 2000
Type
Building
Period
Modern
Ref No.
00000883

About this property

The Rothko Chapel is a non-denominational chapel in Houston, Texas, founded by John and Dominique de Menil. The interior serves not only as a chapel, but also serves as the display framework for a major work of modern art: on its walls are fourteen paintings by Mark Rothko in varying hues of black. The shape of the building—an octagon inscribed in a Greek cross—and the design of the chapel were largely influenced by the artist. The chapel sits 2 mi (3.2 km) southwest of downtown in the Montrose neighborhood, situated between the building housing the Menil Collection and the Chapel of Saint Basil on the campus of the University of Saint Thomas. About 110,000 people visit the chapel each year. Susan J. Barnes states "The Rothko Chapel ... became the world's first broadly ecumenical center, a holy place open to all religions and belonging to none. It became a center for international cultural, religious, and philosophical exchanges, for colloquia and performances. And it became a place of private prayer for individuals of all faiths". On September 16, 2000, the Rothko Chapel was placed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Location

1409 Sul Ross Ave.
Houston, Harris County, Texas
29.73769, -95.39628

Categories

ARTARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Rothko Chapel

This page lists Rothko Chapel. A full Aubrey report for an address near it pulls together this listing alongside battlefield records, land patents, and every other historical record within a chosen radius:

Overview
An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.
The Land
The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.
Geology
The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.
LiDAR Terrain
Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.
Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.
Finds & Access
Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.
Literature
The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.
Spotlight
A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.
Points of Interest
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
Timeline
The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.
First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Rothko Chapel report
Or see a real report first

Nearby Historic Sites

Link-Lee House
Modern
0.3 mi
Sterling-Berry House
Industrial
0.4 mi
Stevenson, Joseph R. and Mary M., House
Industrial
0.5 mi
Hollyfield Laundry and Cleaners,
Industrial
0.5 mi
Logue House
Industrial
0.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Narvaez's Texas Expedition (Filibuster)
1819Early Republic
2.2 mi
Camp Logan Race Riot
1917Modern
2.2 mi

Questions about this property

When was Rothko Chapel listed on the National Register?

Rothko Chapel was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on August 15, 2000.

What type of historic resource is Rothko Chapel?

Rothko Chapel is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Rothko Chapel?

The period of significance for Rothko Chapel is recorded as the modern era.

Can I research the history near Rothko Chapel?

Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Rothko Chapel will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.

More in Harris County

Historic places, battles, and census history across Harris County.

Explore HarrisCounty ›

More historic places in Texas

Browse all historic places in Texas.

View Texashistoric sites ›

Conflict records

Explore 19,000+ military engagements across American history.

Browse US conflicts ›

Texas history

Colonial settlement, territorial period, and statehood narrative.

Texashistory ›

Research the history near this site

An Aubrey US report for an address near Rothko Chapel will include this listing alongside battlefield records and other historical sources within your chosen radius.

Research your locationView a free sample report