Henry Opera House

Built in 1880 as lodge hall. First floor soon became a dry goods and grocery store, and second was made into a fine theater by owner, John Henry (1828-97). Here traveling troupes played Shakespeare and dramas of the times. Famous magician Hermann the Great made Texas debut here; and Blind Tom, self-taught Negro piano virtuoso, once performed on this stage. After period as skating rink, opera house showed first motion picture in the city, about 1909. But with building of new theater, it closed and came again to be used for offices and stores.

Henry Opera House is a historical marker in Huntsville, Walker County, dedicated in 1972. It is one of 69 historical markers documented in Walker County in the Texas Historical Commission Atlas, among 110 historic sites cataloged across the county.

The site sits at 30.7240, -95.5505 near Huntsville. The nearest cataloged historic site is A.F.&A.M. Forrest Lodge No. 19 (historical marker), about under a tenth of a mile away. Others within a short drive include Walker County Courthouse, Walker County, and Sallie E. Gibbs.

This record corresponds to Texas Historical Commission Atlas #5471008456. Use the map below for its exact position and turn-by-turn directions.