Jean Lafitte Hotel
2105 Ave. F, Galveston, TXBuilt as the major downtown hotel at the time when Galveston was a resort, port, and gambling center. Provided (and provides) a downtown hotel "for business and commercial visitors and for tourists." Had 204 rooms each with a private bath. W.L. Moody, Jr. is credited with originating the idea of building a hotel. The property was purchased from Elks. Galveston citizens subscribed the funds under a "buy a room" plan to sell stock; 127 rooms "sold" for $1,000 and "drummer suites" with combined bedrooms and sample suites. Opened October 1927. Andrew Fraser, the architect, was originally from Scotland; came to the U.S. in 1909, and to Galveston in 1926. He designed several major Galveston buildings. The Jean Lafitte Hotel was the most up-to-date hotel in downtown Galveston. Construction was initiated by a major Galveston businessman. Commercially and economically, it was an important addition to the city; a visual landmark, it is one of the largest structures in the downtown and serves as an anchor to this area. There is a complete set of plans for the original building which the owner will utilize in the renovation of the hotel.
Relationship to site: Moved date or Original site X Describe On a corner in downtown; across from St. Mary's Cathedral and half block from the county courthouse.
Listed in National Register of Historic Places in 1984.
The National Register of Historic Places is the official list of the Nation’s historic places worthy of preservation. Authorized by the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the National Park Service’s National Register of Historic Places is part of a national program to coordinate and support public and private efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect America’s historic and archeological resources.