The campus celebrated its birthday Sunday by becoming an official Texas landmark.
Harris County Judge Ed Emmett, a Rice alumnus, helped unveil the Texas Historical Commission marker on campus.
The university says the school's growth into a world-class institution mirrors Houston's growth as a world-class city.
"Rice has been a beacon for scholarship, for excellence," Professor John Boles said. "Even its architecture has shaped much of the architecture in this part of Houston, so you really can't talk about the arrival of Houston as a major city without talking about the role Rice has played in that history."
Rice will hold its own week-long centennial celebration next month.
