Historic Echoes

By Tracey Rhoades

Two years after Rice’s formal dedication in 1912, Herzstein Hall opened in the northeast corner of the Academic Quad. With its rose-hued brick and classic Spanish tile roof, the building, spanning 11 bays, a covered walkway and heavily carved columns, matched the exterior of the other campus buildings. But inside, it boasted something new to Rice: Herzstein Amphitheater, an architectural marvel and the university’s first major lecture hall.

Originally called the Physics Amphitheater, the characterful, 700-square-foot room is marked by towering windows, exposed timber ceiling beams and arched masonry. Upon completion, it quickly became the primary gathering spot for large lectures and university-wide events. Notably, internationally renowned evolutionary biologist and founder of Rice’s biology department, Julian Huxley, presented the historic opening lecture, “The Evolutionary Point of View,” there in 1916. The lecture series carried on into the 1920s and set the stage for other historical milestones, including future U.S. President Herbert Hoover’s speech to the Rice community in 1925 on the building’s elevated arcade staircase, connecting Herzstein Hall and the amphitheater. Many years later, Hollywood showcased the amphitheater’s timeless beauty onscreen as a setting in the 1996 film “The Evening Star,” adapted from a novel of the same name by noted Rice alumnus Larry McMurtry ’60.

In 2017, the amphitheater underwent an update that seamlessly integrated high-definition projectors, sliding chalkboards and touch-panel control systems into its custom-made historic millwork, hiding the modern elements and keeping the old-world charm intact.

A visit to Herzstein Amphitheater isn’t complete, though, without stopping at the Whispering Wall, intentionally integrated architectural alcoves located on either side of the main entrance doors that provide a hands-on demonstration of the laws of physics and how sound travels.

From the Fall 2026 issue of Rice Magazine