Hidden Treasures
in Houston, TX
(showing 1 - 16 out of 16)
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens
1 Westcott St
Houston, TX 77007 Directions
Visit the Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, one of Houston's cultural treasures. The Bayou Bend home was built in 1927, and houses one of the most important collections of American decorative arts in the U.S.
Beer Can House
222 Malone St
Houston, TX 77007 Directions
One man's obsession over 20 years has become a living work of art. The Beer Can House is covered with more than 50,000 beer cans of different varieties. What began as a hobby has bloomed into one of Houston's most popular tourist attractions. Tours are available on weekends.
Chapel of St. Basil
3800 Montrose Blvd
Houston, TX 77006 Directions
Visit the Chapel of St. Basil, the chapel at the University of St. Thomas. Designed by renown architect Phillip Johnson, the chapel includes three functioning bells, a custom-built organ and an overall style reminiscent of historic European churches.
Glazed Over Ceramic Studios
14627-B Memorial Dr
Houston, TX 77079 Directions
Get fired up at Glazed Over Ceramic Studios, where you can paint pre-cast pottery, create glass-fused artwork or take a canvas painting class. You can even BYOB to coax out your inner muse.
National Museum of Funeral History
415 Barren Springs Dr
Houston, TX 77090 Directions
The National Museum of Funeral History provides a unique experience. Where else would you be able to view the embalming machine used to embalm President Truman?
Here's your opportunity to discover America’s largest collection of authentic, historical funeral service items and learn about caskets, coffins, and hearses through history, plus the funerals of Presidents, Popes, celebrities and more. Witness the cultural heritage of the funeral service industry.
Remember to visit the Museum's gift shop and choose from one-of-a-kind trinkets and treasures.
Project Row Houses
2521 Holman St
Houston, TX 77004 Directions
Discover the power of art at Project Row Houses, a community collaboration that has literally "sculpted" a neighborhood into an empowered area with art studios in row homes, exhibition residences, houses for young mothers and refurbished commercial spaces.
Rothko Chapel
1409 Sul Ross St
Houston, TX 77006 Directions
Visit Houston's spiritual landmark, Rothko Chapel. The non-denominational sanctuary is listed in the National Register of Historic Places, an honor awarded before the institution was fifty years old. The Chapel regularly makes top ten lists of places to visit.
Royal Purple Raceway
2525 S FM 565
Baytown, TX 77523 Directions
Check out the wheels every weekend at the Royal Purple Raceway, where you can satisfy your need for speed from a variety of events. The park includes a 3/8-mile dirt oval and an NHRA drag strip. Events include drag racing, demolition derbies and car shows.
Texas Mime Theater
2714 Florence St
Houston, TX 77009 Directions
The high-energy art of mime has gotten the silent treatment for years, until urban hipsters rediscovered its purist tendencies and flat-out funny style of entertainment. Watch a group of professionals do it the right way at the Texas Mime Theater.
The Texas Mime Theatre embraces the art form of miming and seeks out its original intent as a high-energy, physically challenging style of expression that entertains and delights audiences of all ages and background.
The very nature of mime means that it can cross cultural and language differences. In fact, since its inception in 1981, the Texas Mime Theatre has performed across the state at more than 500 schools. The troupe has also traveled to St. Louis and Singapore to bring its talented repertoire to audiences across the nation and around the globe.
Visual theater such as miming traces its roots to the early 20th century, and Texas Mime Theatre stays true to the art form while focusing on bringing its talents to children. Critics have dubbed the professional mime company as the "Best Foreign Group" when the company performed in the Singapore Young People's Theatre Festival.
Texas Mime Theatre is the theater-in-residence for Houston community college and performs at the college's Heinen Theatre. Past productions include Better Left Unsaid, Frankenstein, Opus Mime and Contabuloso.
Theatre Suburbia
4106 Way Out West Dr
Houston, TX 77092 Directions
Theatre Suburbia is an all-volunteer theater with all-heart, and all-talent. The ensemble has a growing reputation for flawless productions, paired with a knack for choosing challenging, lesser-known scripts.
Theatre Suburbia is an all-volunteer production company in the Oak Forest area of Houston, producing a full year of plays since it began in 1957.
Theatre Suburbia prides itself on bringing high-quality productions to the area, without frills and pretentiousness. Because it is an all-volunteer theater, Suburbia charges less for each show and usually includes a benefit performance with all proceeds going to charity.
Theater-goers typically mention how impressive the productions are.
Also Theater Suburbia is known for highlighting works by new and local playwrights, and for unearthing and producing lesser-known scripts by established playwrights.
Recent productions include "Panic," "Waiting To Be Mended," and "If It's Monday, This Must Be Christmas."
St Arnold Brewing Company
2000 Lyons Ave
Houston, TX 77020 Directions
Take a tasting tour of the St. Arnold Brewing Company, Texas' oldest craft brewery. The company has a loyal following who keep a lookout for limited-edition releases throughout the year.
George Ranch Historical Park
10215 FM 762
Richmond, TX 77469 Directions
Journey to a place and time where cattle and cotton are king and Texas is a country all on its own. Visit the George Ranch Historical Park and discover a treasury of Texas traditions. The George Ranch Historical Park is a living history museum that tracks four generations of one family over one hundred years of Texas history. Visit the 1830's Jones Stock Farm, the 1860's Ryon Prairie Home, the 1890's Davis Mansion, and the 1930's George Ranch Complex. Enjoy historic home tours, cattle-working demonstrations, a working blacksmith shop and more.
The Heritage Society At Sam Houston Park
1100 Bagby St
Houston, TX 77002 Directions
The quaint and nostalgic side of Houston is well-preserved by The Heritage Society At Sam Houston Park and its enclave of historic buildings. The structures include turn-of-the-century buildings that served as hospitals, private homes and a school house.
The Heritage Society is located in Sam Houston Park, where it maintains an enclave of historic homes and a museum open to the public.
Historic structures that have been preserved are from the early 1800s and the turn-of-the century.
The buildings include:
Kellum-Noble House - This 1847 structure is the oldest surviving brick home in Houston. It was built by Nathaniel Kellum, and then served as one of Houston's first private schools during the 1850s. The school was run by Zerviah Noble. The home's successful restoration efforts helped organize the Heritage Society.
St. John Church - Built by German farmers in 1891, this country church still has its original alter and plank pews intact.
The Old Place - Seeing is believing. This rough-hewn cedar cabin is believed to have been built around 1823. It is regarded as the oldest remaining structure in Harris County.
Also: Nichols-Rice-Cherry House, San Felipe House, Pillot House, Staiti House, Yates House, 4th Ward CottageVisitors will want to check out the Heritage Society Museum at Sam Houston Park, which gives more detailed information about each structure. It's also a great place to begin your walking tour.
A surprise tucked into the museum is the Duncan store, a general store built in 1878 in Egypt, Houston. It sold everything from food, to meat, to lumber to coffins.
Enjoy lunch in the Tea Room and take home a souvenir of Houston history from the gift shop.
Penzey's Spices
516 W 19th St
Houston, TX 77008 Directions
Come in and smell more than 250 spices and varieties for sale at Penzey's Spices. The cook's shopping paradise features spices, herbs, seasonings and special gift sets, too.
Sur La Table
1996 W Gray St
Houston, TX 77019 Directions
Discover new culinary skills with a cooking class at Sur La Table. Try out your new-found talents at home since you'll be able to purchase items at the store for a discount when you sign up for classes.
Trader's Village
7979 N Eldridge Pkwy
Houston, TX 77041 Directions
If you love a bargain, head over to Trader's Village, a 100-acre outdoor flea market featuring 1,500 dealers. You'll find everything from antiques, to army surplus, to silk flowers, to tractors. Plus, the bargain mecca typically features themed festivals during weekend shopping hours.
