Downtown Houston in Harris County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

M. D. Anderson

Photographed by Brian Anderson, November 16, 2018

1. M. D. Anderson Marker

Inscription. Tennessee native Monroe Dunaway (M. D.) Anderson (1873-1939) joined his brother Frank and William L. and Ben Clayton in an Oklahoma cotton merchandising business in 1904. Anderson served as Chief Financial Officer for the business, known as Anderson, Clayton & Company. In 1907 he moved to Houston and opened a branch office for the company in Houston's original Cotton Exchange building at the corner of Travis and Franklin streets.

Anderson, Clayton & Company moved its main offices to Houston in 1916 and in 1923 moved here to the Houston Cotton Exchange building. They prospered and became the leading merchants in the global cotton market.

Anderson never married and lived frugally in downtown hotels. In 1936 he established a charitable foundation with the fortune he made in the cotton business. Upon his death in 1939, $20 million of his estate was willed to the M. D. Anderson Foundation.

The Texas Legislature authorized the creation of a cancer research hospital in 1941. Upon learning this, trustees of the M. D. Anderson Foundation successfully bid for the institution and helped finance it. The M. D. Anderson Cancer

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Center and the Texas Medical Center which the M. D. Anderson Foundation created have become world renowned institutions.

Erected 1994 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 10595.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Science & Medicine.

Location. 29° 45.538′ N, 95° 21.549′ W. Marker is in Houston, Texas, in Harris County. It is in Downtown Houston. It can be reached from Prairie Street. Marker is located in the lobby of 1310 Prairie Street. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1310 Prairie Street, Houston TX 77002, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the American South

and on the Gulf Coast.

Globally, it is in North America,

a Gulf of Mexico state,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the Republic of Texas,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker:

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Anderson, Clayton & Co. (here, next to this marker); Site of Home of President Sam Houston (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of General Sam Houston House (within shouting distance of this marker); San Jacinto Street (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Christ Church Cathedral (about 700 feet away); a different marker also named Christ Church Cathedral (about 700 feet away); Founding of Harris County (approx. 0.2 miles away); Houston Bar Association (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Houston.

Another marker is no longer nearby. Harris County Courthouse of 1910 (was approx. 0.2 miles away but has been replaced with another marker now near it).

Also see . . . M. D. Anderson: Philanthropist and Founder of the M. D. Anderson Cancer Center. The Handbook of Texas Online. Texas State Historical Association (TSHA) (Submitted on October 23, 2025, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.)

Credits. This page was last revised on October 23, 2025. It was originally submitted on October 23, 2025, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio. This page has been viewed 93 times since then and 42 times this year. Photo 1. submitted on October 23, 2025, by Brian Anderson of New Albany, Ohio.

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