Houston has plenty of modern skyscrapers, but one of downtown’s most intriguing landmarks has been standing since the city’s early skyscraper era. The Samuel F. Carter Building, now home to the JW Marriott Houston Downtown, was once the tallest building in Houston, and today, it has a rather unexpected attraction inside: Theatre of Magic.
The 90-minute experience brings live illusions and magic-inspired cocktails to the historic hotel, giving visitors another reason to step inside a building with more than a century of stories behind it. From its days as a record-breaking skyscraper to its former life as a bank, there’s plenty to discover before the magic even begins.
31 October 2026 16:30 + more dates
JW Marriott Houston Downtown
The building was once the tallest in Houston
The story begins in 1910 when the 16-story Samuel F. Carter Building was completed at the corner of Main Street and Rusk. Designed by Houston architects Sanguinet and Staats, the steel-framed skyscraper was the tallest building in Texas at the time.
Its height was so groundbreaking for the time that Houstonians reportedly weren’t convinced it would stay standing. The building became known locally as “Carter’s Folly”, partly because some thought a skyscraper of that size couldn’t remain standing and partly because its location was considered too far south from Houston’s commercial centre.
They were in some way right. The building didn’t stay at sixteen floors for too long, as in 1923 six additional floors were added. The total was brought to 22, making the structure even more imposing on the downtown skyline.
This luxury hotel was once a bank, and the vault is still there
The building, which now houses JW Marriott Houston Downtown, was once home to Second National Bank of Houston, founded by Samuel F. Carter. And some of its banking past is still hiding in plain sight.
The building still preserves plenty of its original grandeur, including Italian and Norwegian marble interiors. Its ornate boardroom, added for the Second National Bank in 1929, remains remarkably intact, and is available for wedding ceremonies, with mahogany panelling, stained-glass windows, marble floors and a fireplace. It’s a glimpse into the building’s days as a hub for Houston’s financial world, when its offices were occupied by banks, oil companies, doctors, architects and real estate businesses.
There’s an underground tunnel beneath the hotel
The building’s history goes deeper than its old bank vault, in fact 20 feet underground deeper. The JW Marriott Houston Downtown is connected to Houston’s underground tunnel system, with access from the hotel lobby.
The climate controlled tunnel network, which is one of the largest underground pedestrian networks in the US, stretches beneath downtown Houston, linking offices, shops, restaurants and other buildings below street level.
The old landmark has a few new tricks up its sleeve
And there’s another reason to head inside this historic building. Theatre of Magic brings a 90-minute live show to the JW Marriott, with close-up illusions and magic-themed cocktails.
Created by Australian magician Christopher Wayne, the experience has also picked up a 2025 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award, placing it among the top 10% of experiences worldwide.
Step inside this storied building for a different kind of night out in Houston, where objects disappear before your eyes and the evening comes with a few surprises. After all, what better setting for an evening of illusion than a building with a few secrets of its own?
31 October 2026 16:30 + more dates
JW Marriott Houston Downtown
Everything you need to know
🪄 Theatre of Magic: A 90-minute live magic experience
📍 JW Marriott Houston Downtown, 806 Main Street, Houston
🚇 The hotel has access to the city’s underground tunnel network
🎟️ Tickets from $69 per person
🍸 Magic-inspired drinks available, with a cocktail included with VIP tickets
🏆 Winner of the 2025 TripAdvisor Travellers’ Choice Award winner and ranked in the top 10% worldwide
Houston’s Theatre of Magic at the JW Marriott
31 October 2026 16:30 + more dates
JW Marriott Houston Downtown
