Discover Historic Houston
When land speculators John and Augustus Allen navigated up Buffalo Bayou from Galveston Bay in 1836, they saw a vision of endless space, green and tropical, full of possibilities. They were dreamers, but even they could not have dreamed up the possibilities that would become reality in the space they called Houston.
Houston is a city that is constantly new and growing, always on the edge of making yesterday's impossibility today's reality. Although it is constantly "upgrading," the city retains many beautiful reminders of its history.
Morning
Visitors Center Begin your day with a visit to the largest city Visitors Center in the country, where computer stations, museum-quality displays and an exciting film shown in a 50-seat theater offer endless insight to Houston. The art deco styled Visitors Center, located in the historic 1939 City Hall building, is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tour information and maps of Houston's historic landmarks are available at the Visitors Center. For more details visit online at www.visithoustontexas.com or call 1-800-4-HOUSTON.
Sam Houston Park Established in 1900 as the city's first park, Sam Houston Park today houses The Heritage Society. Seven historical Texas homes and a tiny wooden church dating from 1823 to 1905 lie in the shadow of downtown skyscrapers. The Heritage Society offers guided tours daily. Additional attractions include the Museum of Texas History and the Yesteryear Shop with items crafted by local artisans. The Park is located at 1100 Bagby Street. For information call 713-655-1912 or visit online at www.heritagesociety.org.
Church of the Annunciation This Catholic church, built in 1868 at the corner of Texas and Crawford, is the oldest existing church building in Houston.
Rice Hotel Built in 1912, the Rice Hotel sits on the spot on Texas Avenue first occupied by the capitol building for the Republic of Texas from 1837-1839. After several years of abandonment, the redevelopment of the Rice Hotel into loft apartments with trendy street-level eateries was a key element of Houston's downtown revitalization in the 1990s.
Market Square For nearly 100 years, the block bordered by Travis Street, Milam Street, Preston Avenue and Congress Avenue was Houston's central business district. Market Square is home to what is thought to be the oldest public two-story frame building in the city, the 1847 Kennedy Trading Post, which now houses a popular bar, La Carafe.
Afternoon
San Jacinto Monument and Battleground Complex Located about 20 miles east of downtown, the San Jacinto Battleground marks the spot where Texas won its independence from Mexico. The complex houses the towering San Jacinto Monument, the San Jacinto Museum of History and Battleship Texas. The true story of the battle is told in "Texas Forever! The Battle of San Jacinto", screening in the Jesse H. Jones Theater. The museum is open daily from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., admission is free, but the film is $3.50 for adults. For more information, call 281-479-2421 or visit online at www.sanjacinto-museum.org.
Battleship Texas - Built in 1914, the U.S.S. Texas is the world's last remaining dreadnought battleship. Visitors can roam through the crew's quarters, engine rooms and decks, or climb the small-caliber guns or onto the Navigation Bridge. The battleship saw action in both the Allied invasions at Normandy and on Okinawa, was presented to the people of Texas as the first memorial ship in 1948. Open Wednesdays through Sundays. Located at 3527 Battleground Road at La Porte at the San Jacinto Complex. For more information call 281-479-2421 or visit www.sanjacinto-museum.org.
Green Houston 
