Galveston in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Leon & H. Blum Co. Building

Photographed by Jim Evans, May 2, 2013

1. Leon & H. Blum Co. Building Marker

Inscription. A young Alsatian immigrant, Leon Blum (1836-1906), joined his brother Alexander in a business partnership in Richmond, Texas, about 1852. The company, A.Blum & Bro., moved to Galveston in 1859. The new firm of Leon & H. Blum was founded late in 1868, composed of brothers, Leon, Alexander, and Sylvain, and cousins Hyman and Joseph. The firm was Galveston's leading importer and wholesale dealer in dry goods for more than twenty years. Leon & H. Blum served the southwestern United States, Indian Territory, and Mexico, and had offices in New York, Boston, and Paris, France.

Headquarters were established in this building in 1880. Designed for the company by Eugene Heiner (1852-1901), the Blum building was enlarged in 1882 with the input of noted Galveston architect Nicholas Clayton (1840-1916).

The nationwide Depression of the 1890s severely affected the business of Leon & H. Blum, and in 1896 the firm was dissolved. Since that time, the building has housed numerous establishments. The Mistrot & Bros. Company operated a large retail store here until 1917. Vacant for several years, the building later housed offices of the "Galveston Tribune."
Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986

Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 7515.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1852.

Location. 29° 18.368′ N, 94° 47.684′ W. Marker is in Galveston, Texas, in Galveston County. It is on Mechanic Street (Avenue C) near 23rd Street, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2300 Avenue C, Galveston TX 77550, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Houston Metropolitan Area.

It is also in the American South

and on the Gulf

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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,

and one of the Confederate States of America.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Berlocher Row (a few steps from this marker); The Tremont Houses (a few steps from this marker); Mardi Gras in Galveston (a few steps from this marker); Leon & H. Blum Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Davidson Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Powell Arch (within shouting distance of this marker); Rice, Baulard & Company Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Washington Hotel (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Galveston.

Regarding Leon & H. Blum Co. Building. This building is now the elegant Tremont House Hotel

Also see . . . The Leon & H. Blum Co. Building in the Handbook of Texas. (Submitted on May 5, 2013, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)

Photographed by Kayla Harper, December 26, 2019

2. Leon & H. Blum Co. Building Marker

Leon & H. Blum Co. Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jim Evans, May 2, 2013

3. Leon & H. Blum Co. Building

Leon & H. Blum Co. Building is in the National Register of Historic Places image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jim Evans, May 2, 2013

4. Leon & H. Blum Co. Building is in the National Register of Historic Places

The Tremont House Hotel is a Historic Hotel of America image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jim Evans, May 2, 2013

5. The Tremont House Hotel is a Historic Hotel of America

The Leon & H. Blum Co. building is now the Tremont House Hotel

Tremont House Hotel Entrance image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jim Evans, May 2, 2013

6. Tremont House Hotel Entrance

The marker is to the right of the hotel entrance.

A Verbose History of the Leon & H. Blum Co. Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Jim Evans, May 2, 2013

7. A Verbose History of the Leon & H. Blum Co. Building

Credits. This page was last revised on May 25, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 5, 2013, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,448 times since then and 37 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 5, 2013, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 2. submitted on December 31, 2019, by Kayla Harper of Dallas, Texas. 3. submitted on July 22, 2020, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 4, 5, 6, 7. submitted on May 5, 2013, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.