Petroleum Building

Just a few blocks away, the sleek lines of the Petroleum Building mark our next stop. Completed during the post-World War II building boom, this Modern Movement structure captures the optimism of the era. It was designed by Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson, a Texas firm that went on to design many iconic buildings, including Houston’s Astrodome. One of the firm’s partners, B.W. Crain, was a Longview native who left a lasting architectural footprint throughout East Texas.

The Petroleum Building reflects the clean, functional style of the mid-20th century — where form followed purpose and new materials like steel and glass symbolized progress. It was a fitting home for the region’s oil industry, which by the 1950s had matured from its wildcat roots into a global economic force. This building is a physical reminder of the postwar years when Longview was thriving, business was booming, and East Texans were looking to the future.