Paris, Texas, celebrates historic hotel landmark

Postmark Pursuit by Scott Tiffney

The Lamar County Historical Commission in Paris, Texas, is offering a pictorial postmark to highlight the dedication of a Texas historical marker for the landmark Gibraltar Hotel in downtown Paris. The cancel features “Hotel Gibraltar” in a stylized font, and the postal station, dedication date (Dec. 13) and postal address inside the shape of a historical marker plaque.

The history of the Gibraltar Hotel dates to 1914, when the community, approximately 105 miles northeast of Dallas, felt a first-class hotel was needed. Local Paris business leaders Richard Blyth, Edward Norment and Benjamin Bailey purchased land for the project on Jan. 27, 1914, for $10,000.

The group was determined to build “the finest hotel this side of Dallas,” Blyth was quoted as saying. With the introduction of a local railroad connecting Dallas to St. Louis that would pass through Paris, it was logical that a fine hotel be located there for business travelers.

Plans quickly began for a six-story, steel-reinforced concrete hotel structure that included interior decor made from Georgian marble and mahogany. After a year of building, the final construction costs were $300,000, about $9,700,000 in today's dollars.

The design of the building was influenced by the work of renowned architect Louis Sullivan (1856-1924), best known for incorporating Art Nouveau ornamentation such as vines, flowers and geometric patterns within steel-frame constructions.

The hotel opened for business on Sept. 1, 1915. Upon completion the basement, lobby and mezzanine level were used for company offices, while rooms for travelers were located on the upper floors.

Over the years, the hotel has been a commercial and social center of Paris, playing host to conferences, banquets, political rallies and other important events. In 1985 the hotel was a contributing structure in the National Register of Historic Places nomination of the Paris Commercial Historic District.

At its zenith, the Gibraltar Hotel was visited by many dignitaries, including presidents William Taft and Lyndon B. Johnson, as well as boxer Jack Dempsey, baseball players Dizzy and Paul Dean, country music singer Tex Ritter and actor Gabby Hayes.

Today the hotel is used as retirement facility for local senior residents. In 2023 the Gibraltar Hotel was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark by the Texas Historical Commission. The hotel’s current owners, Gibraltar McKnight, Inc., are passionate about restoring the hotel and played a pivotal role in the Dec. 13, 2025, dedication of a Texas historical marker for the Paris landmark.

To obtain the postmark, address your request to:

Gibraltar Station, Postmaster, 500 Clarksville St., Paris, TX 75460, Dec. 13.

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