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In case you missed the news, the Houston Astrodome was
listed recently in the National Register of Historic Places. What’s that, you ask? The NRHP (for short) is a list of historically
significant sites, structures, or districts deemed significant by the federal
government. These are not just “old
buildings,” either. The St. Louis Arch
and Martin Luther King Jr.’s gravesite are both NRHP listed properties. These sites can qualify for inclusion based
on multiple factors, including architectural design or an association with a
famous person or event.
So, why the Astrodome?
From a cultural standpoint, the Astrodome was a very important structure
in the latter half of the 20th century. It’s easy to write it off as just a sports
stadium where the Astros and Oilers played games, but dig a bit deeper and
you’ll see it hosted many important cultural events (including boxing matches,
Evil Knievel, the Republican National Convention in 1992, Elvis Presley, “The
Battle of the Sexes,” etc.). Aesthetics
also likely played a part in why the structure was nominated. It was built in 1965, which was the height of
Modernist design, and it was a very unique looking design. It’s sometimes hard to grasp now, but the
Astrodome was important enough to be dubbed “The Eighth Wonder of the
World.”
Now, what does NRHP nomination mean for the Astrodome? The short answer is we don’t really know
yet. Properties listed in the NRHP are
eligible for tax breaks if the owner(s) tries to rehabilitate the structure and
that’s a big incentive. If Harris County,
for example, were to sell the site to a developer or group, that might help
convince them to try and repurpose the Astrodome in some way. Of course, I write “might” here because it’s
a popular misconception that being listed in the NRHP prevents a structure from
being torn down. Demolition is still a
very real outcome here.
Still, if you’re a fan of the Astrodome, this announcement
is a good thing. The recognition, and PR
generated, helps gives the structure another lifeline. If you’re not a fan of the Astrodome, this
probably isn’t the news you were looking for since it buys a little more
time. Summed up: There’s still is no resolution and all
options are on the table. Stay
tuned.
