Heading east on Whaley and just a few blocks away, the sleek lines of the Petroleum Building signal the next stop. Located at 202 E Whaley and completed during the post–World War II building boom, this Modern Movement landmark reflects the optimism and forward-looking spirit of its era. The building was designed by Wilson, Morris, Crain, & Anderson, the Texas firm responsible for many iconic projects, including the Houston Astrodome. One of the firm’s partners, Longview native B. W. Crain, left a lasting architectural legacy across East Texas.
The Petroleum Building showcases the clean, functional style of the mid-twentieth century, when form followed purpose and modern materials like steel and glass signaled progress. It was a fitting home for the region’s oil industry, which by the 1950s had matured into a global economic force. Today, the building has been renovated into residential apartments, yet it remains a powerful reminder of a time when Longview was thriving, business was booming, and East Texans were looking confidently toward the future.