Houston—It All Started Here
Did you know?
Houston's Memorial Hermann Hospital is the birthplace of Life Flight™ (1976).
The first successful human heart transplant was performed in Houston by Dr. Denton Cooley (1968).
"Houston" was the first word spoken on the moon (1969).
Houston (Rice University) is the birthplace of nanotechnology.
Houston, not Louisiana, is the birthplace of Zydeco.
Houston's Robert del Grande is one of three culinary pioneers behind Southwestern cuisine.
America's first public television station launched in Houston (KPHT-TV).
The Texas flag was made in the Greater Houston area.
Mogul Howard Hughes was born in Houston and is buried near downtown in Glenwood Cemetary.
It seems fitting that Houston is the site that Texas won its independence to become its own nation, founded after a battle that affected the fates of three nations and shifted world power in the late 1830s.
Houston has always been a city that looks ahead: FIRST to send a man to the moon
FIRST to put a port inland
FIRST to stage baseball games indoors.
It's hard to imagine that something as innovative as the Astrodome is now considered out-of-date as a sports facility—but it still is able to step up to the plate when it's needed.
Houston is also home to numerous world premieres throughout the renowned museum and theater districts.
Attractions and Historical Landmarks in Houston
 | Historic Downtown
Courthouse Square, the site of the magnificent 1910 Harris County Courthouse, is undergoing a $50 million restoration. Nearby on Congress Avenue and Main Street, some of the city's oldest buildings have been revitalized as restaurants, hotels, lofts and nightclubs. Market Square is the birthplace of downtown Houston. Texas Avenue, is a legendary street that runs through the heart of Houston's Theater District. Sesquicentennial Park is a beautiful link in the revitalization of Buffalo Bayou. | | | |  | The Heritage Society
The Heritage Society in Sam Houston Park is a remarkable museum in a remarkable setting. Here in the reflection of Houston’s gleaming and modern downtown are eight of the city’s oldest structures. Take a guided tour of the beautifully restored and authentically furnished structures which depict a range of architectural and cultural styles present in Houston from 1823 to 1905. You can also tour the Museum gallery and the permanent exhibits of artifacts and vintage photographs of Houston. | | | |  | Astrodome
The Astrodome has held many titles throughout its illustrious career—Eighth Wonder of the World; World's First Domed Stadium; and, more recently, Shelter from the Storm during Hurricane Katrina. There's no doubt that the Astrodome holds a firm place in Houston's history...and the rest of the world. | | | |  | San Jacinto Monument and Museum
Celebrate the birthplace of Texas at the San Jacinto Monument and Museum, the site Texas won its independence from Mexico in the 1836 Battle of San Jacinto. The San Jacinto Monument is the tallest column monument in the country. Inside the column is a 489-foot elevator that goes to the top, giving visitors a birds-eye view of the battlefield, the Houston Ship Channel and, if the weather is clear, the skyline of downtown Houston. Visitors can also learn about Texas by viewing the digital presentation Texas Forever!! The Battle of San Jacinto. | | | |  | Battleship Texas
The last of the battleships to participate in World War I and II, Battleship Texas became the first battleship memorial museum in the U.S. in 1948. | | | |  | Bayou Bend
Just minutes from downtown, Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens showcases the American decorative arts collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Housed in the former residence of the late Houston philanthropist and collector Miss Ima Hogg, the collection is displayed in over 20 room settings that trace the evolution of style in America from the colonial period to the mid-19th century. Visitors can stroll through the surrounding 14 acres of formal gardens and paths bordered by native bayou woodlands. | | | |  | Brenner's on the Bayou
The building for Brenners’ on the Bayou was built in 1935 as a residence at One Birdsall Street, overlooking Buffalo Bayou. Before the owners had a chance to move in, the home was flooded with about 20 feet of water during the Great Houston Flood of 1935. Dr. James Collier, a pediatrician, bought the home after the flood, redesigned it and added a floor to the former two-story residence. In 1976, Fred Welling purchased the property and renovated it, adding a restaurant dining room and spacious patios. Shortly thereafter it opened as the Rainbow Lodge, which operated in the location for 29 years. Today, Brenner’s on the Bayou, which was opened by Landry's Signature Group division in August 2007, is a rustic, yet elegant, steakhouse surrounded by beautiful landscaping, a waterfall, gazebo and springtime azaleas. | |
Green Houston 
