We Took a Step Back in Time at 10 Best Historical Places in Houston
Growing up in Houston, I’d spent weekends with my parents wandering around the city. One of my favorite memories was visiting Sam Houston Park, where we got to explore the historic buildings that were relocated there.
I had an active imagination, so I really enjoyed hearing stories about the city’s past and my first visit to Sam Houston Park sparked my curiosity about history. Now, as an adult, I see that so much has been done so much to preserve the historical places in Houston.
From the NASA Johnson Space Center to historic landmarks and preserved structures, each place in our list has its own unique story. Let’s explore some of Houston’s must-visit historical destinations!
NASA Johnson Space Center
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Website: https://www.nasa.gov/johnson/
Address: 2101 E NASA Pkwy, Houston, TX
Contact Details: (281) 483-0123
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Friday – 8 AM to 5 PM
- Saturday to Sunday – Closed
If there’s one remarkable, historical place about Houston, it has to be this one. Who could forget the iconic line, “Houston, we have a problem,” from the Apollo 13 mission?
(Apollo 13 was a failed mission to land on the moon for the third time and this line was edited by the writers for its movie adaptation to add suspense to a pivotal scene. The real line spoken during the mission was “Houston, we’ve had a problem.”)
Since 1961,the NASA Johnson Space Center has been the venue of major human spaceflight initiatives, including the Gemini, Apollo, Skylab, and Space Shuttle programs.
Lately, it’s involved in International Space Station missions, Orion spacecraft development, NASA’s Gateway program, and the Commercial Crew program. It’s also become one of NASA’s largest research and development facilities.
While visitors can’t casually drop by to view the facilities, those who want to do so can visit Space Center Houston instead. It doubles as a science museum and a visitor center for the NASA Johnson Space Center!
The general admission packages only cover the museum visit and tram tours, but for $199.95, guests can go on an up close and personal VIP Tour of either the historic Mission Control or Astronaut Training facilities.
| Pro Tip: Kids younger than 14 years old can’t join the NASA VIP Tour, so those who don’t meet this age requirement will have to wait a little longer to visit. |
Sam Houston Park
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Website: https://www.houstontx.gov/abouthouston/samhoustonpark.html
Address: 1000 Bagby St, Houston, TX
Contact Details: (832) 394-8805
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 7 AM to 9 PM
Houston has plenty of beautiful parks, but Sam Houston Park stands out for being a significant part of the city’s history as the first park developed in 1899. Since then, it’s been the home of several historical landmarks and monuments.
History buffs who want to learn more about Houston’s past will enjoy spending time in this park. The Heritage Society, a group tasked to preserve the city’s local history and structures, is headquartered here.
Starting at $5, visitors can enjoy the Heritage Society Museum, which offers guided tours of the park and allows guests to see culturally-important buildings such as the Kellum-Noble House. It was built in 1847 and is the oldest brick building in the city.
Don’t feel like spending a single cent? Go on a self-guided tour and learn the stories about the different structures by scanning the QR codes assigned to each one using your mobile phone!
| Pro Tip: Did you know that you can have your wedding and reception at Sam Houston Park? Different structures and spaces in the park, such as the St. John Church, Nichols-Rice-Cherry House, and Jane Ellen’s Tree can be rented at an affordable rate for intimate events. |
1940 Air Terminal Museum
Media Credit: 1940atm
Website: https://www.1940airterminal.org/
Address: 8325 Travelair St, Houston, TX
Contact Details: (713) 454-1940
Operating Hours:
- Tuesday to Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
- Monday – Closed
Admission Costs: Start at $10 for adults
The 1940 Air Terminal Museum wasn’t always the museum and events place that it is now. When it first opened in 1940, it was Houston’s only commercial air terminal until the spring of 1955!
It fell into disuse until it was renovated for preservation a few decades later. In terms of architecture, it showcases the Art Deco trend of its time and is now one of the few surviving true Art Deco buildings in the country.
Aviation history fans will love this museum. The terminal building is an interesting artifact in itself, but inside, visitors can also see airplane models, uniforms, advertisements, and memorabilia from the airlines that used to serve the terminal.
The museum’s permanent exhibit also explains the aviation history of Houston and the areas nearby, starting from the first flight in 1910 and continuing on to World War I, World War II, and the post-war era and beyond.
In the International Wing of the museum, there’s a Hawker 125 business jet on permanent exhibit that’s been reconfigured into an art piece for guests to appreciate and take pictures with!
| Pro Tip: Folks at the 1940 Air Terminal Museum can help you bring your aviation-themed photoshoot to life! You can rent space, have a golden hour photo session, or even borrow vintage suitcases as props! |
The Grand 1894 Opera House
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Website: https://www.thegrand.com/
Address: 2020 Postoffice St, Galveston, TX
Contact Details: (409) 765-1894
Admission Costs: Show tickets start at $40
A quick drive to the Greater Houston area will bring you to The Grand 1894 Opera House in Galveston’s Historic Downtown Cultural Arts District. This 1000-person capacity theater is a haven for the arts and a must-visit for fans of the performing arts.
The theater was built in 1894 and has survived several massive hurricanes since. It received the title of being the “Official Opera House of Texas” in 1993. It now operates as a not-for-profit theater that hosts international performers, stage plays and musicals.
There’s an extensive list of world-famous artists who have graced the stage of The Grand, which includes Liza Minelli, The Beach Boys, and Ray Charles! Productions of “Chicago” and “The Nutcracker” have also been performed in the opera house.
Aside from the beautiful interiors rich in history, what’s great about The Grand is its architecture–considering that it was built way before modern technology, The Grand offers excellent acoustics and views of the stage from any seat in the house!
| Pro Tip: Are you very particular with leg room when watching a live show? Book the elevated seats that are nearer to the back of the theater as they have a wider leg room than the seats nearer to the stage. |
The Heights Theater
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Website: https://theheightstheater.com/
Address: 339 W 19th St, Houston, TX
Contact Details: (214) 272-8346
Admission Costs: Tickets start at $25
The Heights Theater was built in 1923 but it didn’t open for business until years later in 1929. After 100 years, several renovations, and even an arson incident, the theater has been historically preserved and still standing in its original location!
The Heights Theater these days is a busy and lively music venue, with acts performing almost every day of the year. But it wasn’t almost this way–in fact, the venue had a dark incident in the past that led to it being destroyed by fire.
In 1969, the theater showed a sexually explicit Swedish film that also discussed social justice and equality. The theater owners at the time had been harassed and threatened for days, and it all culminated in an arson fire that destroyed (mostly) the interior.
In the decades that followed, homeless people moved in until the theater was bought by new owners and it became an art space. In 2015, a new owner took over and renovated the theater extensively, becoming the concert and movie venue it is today.
Another thing to enjoy in The Heights Theater are the local community events it hosts! It’s not only a part of Houston history–it now also creates a strong sense of community and engagement with the city’s residents.
| Pro Tip: Do you enjoy listening to indie music? The Heights Theatre is a popular venue for concerts of indie artists, so check out their upcoming events regularly for the performers coming to town! |
The San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site
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Website: https://thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/san-jacinto-battleground
Address: 3523 Independence Pkwy, La Porte, TX
Contact Details: (281) 479-2431
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 9 AM to 6 PM
Admission Costs: Tickets to the monument start at $14 for adults
Just off the Houston Ship Channel is the San Jacinto Battleground Historic Site. This site commemorates one of the most significant events in Texas history: General Sam Houston’s victory over General Antonio López de Santa Anna.
In the 1820 and 1830s, this area of Texas had been under Mexican rule. No longer happy under the dictatorship of then-president General Santa Anna, the settlers in the area rebelled and drove away the Mexican army from Texas.
In return, General Santa Anna sent 6,000 soldiers to stop the rebellion and reclaim Texas. General Houston led the Texas army and in April 1836, after taking advantage of the divided Mexican forces, he executed a surprise attack that won them the revolution.
These days, this historic site features the San Jacinto Monument, where guests can take an elevator to a viewing deck that has a great view of the battle, the Houston Ship Channel, and Houston.
There’s also the San Jacinto Museum, where guests can learn more about the Battle of San Jacinto, the Texas Revolution, and Texas history and culture. A graveyard tour is also available for those who wish to learn more about the people who fought in the war.
| Pro Tip: The San Jacinto Battleground Historic Site hosts plenty of interesting events all year round! Try joining their Cannon Demonstration if you want to see a live cannon being fired like in the 1800s. |
Glenwood Cemetery
Media Credit: glenwoodcemeteryhouston
Website: https://www.glenwoodcemetery.org/
Address: 2525 Washington Ave, Houston, TX
Contact Details: (713) 864-7886
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 7 AM to 5:30 PM
Along the Buffalo Bayou and near Downtown Houston is Glenwood Cemetery, one of the oldest and most picturesque cemeteries in the city. It’s been around since 1871 and it’s been beautifully maintained even after 150 years.
What’s notable about this cemetery is its residents–it’s the final resting place of the “who’s who” in Houston history. Architects and builders who built the landmarks we know today, prominent businessmen, and even politicians are buried here.
Perhaps the most famous resident is billionaire Howard Hughes, who was portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio in the Academy Award-winning movie “The Aviator”. Stan Lee, creator of Iron Man, also based the character of Tony Stark on this real-life innovator.
| Pro Tip: Did you know that you can book guided walking tours of Glenwood Cemetery? It happens every Saturday and includes a tour of the notable figures and the architecture in the cemetery. Advanced booking is required. |
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
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Website: https://www.mfah.org/visit/bayou-bend-collection-and-gardens/
Address: 6003 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX
Contact Details: (713) 639-7750
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Tuesday – Closed
- Wednesday to Saturday – 10 AM to 5 PM
- Sunday – 1 PM to 5 PM
Admission Costs: Starts at $14 for adults
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is the former home of Ima Hogg, a Houstonian civic leader and philanthropist more famously known as “The First Lady of Texas.” It’s been registered in the National Register of Historic Places since 1979.
Miss Hogg collected decorative art, paintings, and furniture. In 1957, she donated her home and collection to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. It opened to the public in 1966, and is still enjoyed by thousands of visitors each year, many decades later.
Aside from admiring over 4,700 pieces of art, guests can also look forward to lush greenery and beautifully landscaped gardens, such as the Clio Garden and the Woodland Ravines.
| Pro Tip: The Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens organizes a Christmas Village event every December to spread the holiday cheer! There’s sledding with faux snow, model trains, and even a photo opportunity with Santa (requires a $10 payment). |
1892 Bishop’s Palace
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Website: https://galvestonhistory.org/sites/1892-bishops-palace
Address: 1402 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, TX
Contact Details: (409) 762-2475
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
Admission Costs: Starts at $15 for adults
An hour drive to Galveston is 1892 Bishop’s Palace, a Victorian-style mansion that stands out with its stained-glass windows and intricate wood carvings. It’s included in the National Register of Historical Places for its awe-inspiring architecture.
As one of the most important Victorian-style buildings in the country, The Bishop’s Palace attracts plenty of visitors annually and is a must-visit for history and architecture lovers. Guests can go on a self-guided tour with headsets or join the guided tours.
The tours are basement-to-attic tours, so guests can check out all the rooms and learn the stories behind each one. The whole place is well-preserved, so visiting feels like stepping back in time by a hundred years.
| Pro Tip: Bishop’s Palace is currently not wheelchair or walker friendly, so for those with physical disabilities with plans to visit, plan ahead accordingly! |
1895 Moody Mansion
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Website: https://www.moodymansion.org/
Address: 618 Broadway Avenue J, Galveston, TX
Contact Details: (409) 762-7668
Operating Hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 10 AM to 5 PM
Admission Costs: Starts at $15 for adults
A few minutes walk from Bishop’s Palace is the Moody Mansion. Built in 1893 and completed in 1895, the Romanesque mansion initially had over 30 rooms across four floors! It also has an elevator, which was a marvel during the time it was built.
Those curious about the life of rich families more than 100 years ago are in for a treat at the Moody Mansion. It was first built by the Willis family then bought by the Moody family years later. Both families were wealthy residents of Texas.
The mansion has survived several hurricanes and has been renovated extensively over several years without removing too much of its original charm. Even the furnishings and personal effects of its former residents are all on display!
Much like Bishop’s Palace, guests can opt for a self-guided tour with an audio guide or a guided tour with a local expert. The basement of the mansion is now Galveston Children’s Museum for those bringing their kids along.
| Pro Tip: The Moody Mansion can be rented out for special events such as weddings, anniversaries, and reunions. The ballroom can accommodate formal events while more casual celebrations can be celebrated in the outdoor area. |
