Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tours
Introduction
We offer over nineteen (19) walking tours outside of downtown of which seventeen (17) are outside walking tours. The Galleria and the Gerald D. Hines Water Wall Tour and the Lakewood Church and Greenway Plaza Tour are the only primarily interior tours. The Galleria and the Gerald D. Hines Water Wall Tour is the only primarily interior walking tour outside of the I-610 Loop; all of the other tours are within the I-610 Loop. All of these tours require reservations. All of these tours involve narratives about the history and present areas and institutions.
We offer the outside walking tours for seven (7) months of the year, from October through April. Temperatures are generally below 90 degrees Fahrenheit/32 degrees Celsius. Houston often has humidity that is between 60 to 80%. During the five (5) month period of May through September, the Houston high temperatures are often between 95 degrees Fahrenheit/35 degrees Celsius and 109 degrees Fahrenheit/43 degrees Celsius.
For one's skin protection, one should:
- Apply sunscreen lotion or spray.
- Wear comfortable shoes (with ankle support) and socks.
- Wear a hat with a wide brim to protect one's head.
- Wear sunglasses with UV coating.
- Wear shirts with sleeves to cover one's arms.
- Bring a water bottle with water in it.
- Use a bathroom immediately before we begin the walk.
Each of these tours is approximately 2.0 to 2.5 hours. They normally begin at 11:00 AM because many institutions open at that time. However, we can be flexible and adjust the starting time. Also, all tours can be shortened to 1.0, 1.5, or 2.0 hours. Of course, one has to eliminate some of the sites that we see with a shorter tour, but we can accommodate your desires.
Many of these tours are in historic neighborhoods that have large oak and other trees. Characteristic of many older neighborhoods that are more than 75 years old and in some cases more than 100 years old, are uneven, cracked, and broken pavements. This may be caused by shifting, foundation problems, protruding roots, neglect, construction, et cetera. These tours are generally not stroller friendly. One has to walk in the streets as no sidewalks exist in some neighborhoods on Tour M.
Remember, that a walking tour only moves as fast as the slowest person. Furthermore, the more people on a walking tour – the slower the tour. A 2.5-hour tour for 3 people may be 5.0-hours for 30 people. Keep this mind when planning your tour. With a large group, a leader should volunteer to be the sweep or caboose. This person will be at the end to ensure that no one falls behind.
Tours A through D are the four Downtown Walking Tours. Click here for information about these tours.
The following are the walking tours outside of Downtown Houston:
| Tour E | Tour F | Tour G |
| Tour H | Tour I | Tour J |
| Tour K | Tour L | Tour M |
| Tour N | Tour O | Tour P |
| Tour Q | Tour R | Tour S |
| Tour T | Tour U | Tour V |
| Tour W | Tour X |
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour E — The Galleria and the Gerald D. Hines Water Wall
This is the only primary indoor tour outside of the downtown area. We walk between 3.0 and 3.5 miles/4.8 and 5.6 kilometers. We spend approximately 1.5 to 2.0 hours inside the three levels of the Galleria. The Galleria was originally built in 1970. It has been added three additional times in 1976, 1986, and 2003, forming now Galleria I, II, III, and IV. With 375 stores, it is the 4th largest shopping mall in the United States (US). The original Galleria has a full-size ice skating rink and food court. See some of the finest stores in the world including:
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Check The Galleria’s website to find the most updated information on the stores and restaurants that occupy The Galleria.
The last part of this tour is to go to the 64 foot/20 meters high Gerald D. Hines Water Wall. This C or U shaped structure was built in 1985 as the air conditioning unit for the Williams Tower. The architect was Philip Johnson. It is the most photographed area of Houston. 11,000 gallons of water pour off it every minute.
This tour begins and ends off of McCue Road and Hidalgo Street at the Red Garage Level 1, Zone T. All of The Galleria parking is free. Dozens of restaurants are located in The Galleria if you want to stay for lunch, as well as shop.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour F — The Smaller Museum District and the University of Saint Thomas
This is one of the most beautiful tours as we walk through a neighborhood that dates to the early 1900s. Be prepared to walk on uneven pavement. The preferential days for this tour are Tuesday through Sunday when every museum is open. Most of the museums open by or at 11:00 AM. This tour covers about 2.0 to 2.5 miles/3.2 and 4.0 kilometers. We go into six museums, including:
- The Cy Twombly Gallery
- The Dan Flavin Installation
- The Houston Center for Photography
- The Menil Collection
- The Rothko Chapel
- The Watercolor Art Society - Houston
- The Chapel of Saint Basil and see the labyrinth on the campus of the UST.
We see the historic Link Lee mansion that now is the main building for the University of Saint Thomas (UST), the childhood home of Howard Hughes, and one or two more surprises.
The Cy Twombly Gallery, Dan Flavin Installation, Houston Center for Photography, and the Menil Collection are closed on Monday and Tuesday.
The Watercolor Art Society – Houston is closed on Sunday and Monday. It opens at 10:00 AM on all other days. For the most up to date information, call (713) 942-9966.
The Rothko Chapel is open every day beginning at 10:00 AM.
All of the above museums have free admission.
This tour begins and ends by The Black Labrador Pub at 4100 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006. Limited free parking is in front of the bakery and on Colquitt Street. Be aware of signs. Paid parking is available in the parking garage behind the restaurant. However, the parking can be validated if you eat lunch at The Black Labrador.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour G —The Museum District and a Library Between Binz/Bissonnet on the South and Wentworth Street on the North and Between Main Street to the West and La Branch Street to the East
This is an easy walk of between 1.5 to 2.0 miles//2.4 to 3.2 kilometers. We walk by (and sometimes in) 6 museums and libraries, including the:
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH)
- Clayton Library Center for Genealogical Research (Clayton Library)
- Holocaust Museum Houston (HMH)
- Czech Center Museum Houston (CCMH)
- Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC)
- Asia Society Texas Center (ASTC)
- And more
We will go past and or see two historic churches: The 1930 St. Paul’s United Methodist Church and the 1948 First Presbyterian Church.
The area used to be known as the Third Ward. Since the 1990s, people have been calling it Midtown.
Each museum or church that we enter should have a bathroom for the general public.
The MFAH is closed on Monday. It opens on Sunday at 12:15 PM and on Tuesday through Saturday at 10:00 AM. Admission is free on Thursday. For the most up to date information, call (713) 639-7300.
The Clayton Library is closed on Sunday and Saturday. It is considered one of the 10 best non-federal genealogical libraries in the United States. It opens on all other days at 10:00 AM. For the most up to date information, call (832) 393-2600.
The HMAAC has an inconsistent schedule. It is not easy to predict when it will be open. It is closed on Monday and Tuesday. It opens at 1:00 PM on Sunday and at 11:00 AM Wednesday through Saturday.
The ASTC is closed on Monday. It opens at 11:00 AM on all other days. Admission is free. For the most up to date information, call (713) 496-9901.
If one wants lunch immediately after the tour, a Cafe Express is located in the basement of the Audrey Jones Beck Building of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston at 5601 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005 across the street from the Caroline Wiess Law Building at 1001 Bissonnet Street, Houston, Texas 77005.
The tour begins and ends at the northeast corner of Binz Street and Main Street close to the glen of St. Paul’s United Methodist Church at 5501 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77004. Paid parking is available in the MFAH garage on the south side of Binz Street between Fannin Street and San Jacinto Street, by the light rail.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour H —The Museum and Theater District Between US 59 to the South and Francis Street to the North and Travis Street to the west and Almeda Road to the east.
This is an easy short walk with several sites in a small area. These include the
- Former Houston Light Guard Building and home of the Buffalo Soldiers National Museum (BSNM)
- Ensemble Theatre
- Former Temple Beth Israel and the original High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA), and currently The Heinen Theatre
- Community Artists’ Collective (CAC)
- The Station Museum of Contemporary Art (SMCA)
We will go past and or see two historic churches: The 1919 Trinity Episcopal Church and the 1927 First Evangelical Lutheran Church.
We also go by and sometimes in the main campus of Houston Community College (HCC). It was originally built in 1913. It was South End Junior High School, South End High School, and later San Jacinto High School.
The area used to be known as the Third Ward. Since the 1990s, people have been calling it Midtown.
Each theater, museum, or church that we enter should have a bathroom for the general public.
The Ensemble Theatre and The Heinen Theatre are performing arts centers that are generally closed during the day. Sometimes they have groups practicing in them.
The BSNM is closed on Sunday. It opens at 10:00 AM every other day. For the most up to date information, call (713) 942-8920.
The SMCA is closed on Monday and Tuesday. It opens at 11:00 AM every other day. Admission is free. For the most up to date information, call (713) 529-6900.
The BSNM is closed on Sunday. For the most up to date information, call (713) 942-8920.
The CAC has an inconsistent schedule. It is not easy to predict when they will be open.
We can generally take a bathroom break inside any theater, museum, or church that we visit. A number of college hangouts are located by HCC to stop for refreshments. We often stop at a local pizzeria.
This tour begins and ends at The Breakfast Klub at 3711 Travis Street, Houston, Texas 77002. This is by Alabama Street. (713) 528-8561. This restaurant is an excellent place for an informal breakfast or lunch. It is generally open from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour I —Museums and Galleries North of Binz/Bissonnet to US 59 Between Montrose Boulevard and Main Street
This is a walk of about 2.0 – 2.5 miles/3.2 and 4.0 kilometers. We stop inside or outside the following:
- Contemporary Arts Museum (CAM) Houston
- The Harris Gallery
- The Jung Center of Houston (Jung Center)
- Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden (Sculpture Garden)
- Glassell School of Art
- Bijou Gallery
- Nolan-Rankin Gallery
- Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts (HCCC) Park
- Houston Center for Contemporary Crafts
- Lawndale Art Center (LAC)
We will also see the oldest Masonic lodge in Texas, Bell Park, a statue of Christopher Columbus, and more.
In case you are interested in planning the day of your walking tour when museums are free and or you want to know the prices of some popular activities, we provide the following information:
The CAM is closed on Monday. Admission is free. For the most up to date information, call (713) 284-8250.
The Jung Center art gallery is closed on Sunday. Admission is free. For the most up to date information, call (713) 524-8253.
The Sculpture Garden and HCCC Park are free and open everyday.
The HCCC is closed on Monday. Admission is free. For the most up to date information, call (713) 529-4848.
The LAC is closed on Sunday. Admission is free. For the most up to date information, call (713) 528-5858.
The MFAH is closed on Monday. Admission is free on Thursday. For the most up to date information, call (713) 639-7300.
The lifetime and location of art galleries can be short; please understand if changes occur.
If one wants to eat lunch immediately after the tour, a Cafe Express is located in the basement of the Audrey Jones Beck Building of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston at 5601 Main Street, Houston, Texas 77005 across the street from the Law Building.
The tour begins and ends at the parking lot across the street from the Caroline Wiess Law Building of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH) at 1001 Bissonnet Street, Houston, Texas 77005, located between Montrose Boulevard and Main Street. Free parking is available there. Paid parking in the MFAH garage two blocks west, between Fannin Street and San Jacinto Street, is also available.Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour J — Hermann Park I
This is a fun tour in which one might want to bring children. Hermann Park was opened in 1914. George Hermann donated 280 acres and Houston Mayor Ben Campbell had the city purchase an additional 122 acres. It is the most famous park in Houston and is a huge magnet for fun and cultural events. This walk is approximately 2.5 to 3.0 miles/4.0 to 4.8 kilometers. In Hermann Park, we will walk by:
- Houston Zoo
- McGovern Lake
- McGovern Lake fountains
- McGovern Lake ducks
- Pedal boats
- Hermann Park Mini-Train
- Pinewood Café or a McDonald’s for a refreshment break
- Picnic areas
- Jogging track
- The Buddy Carruth Playground For All Children
- Miscellaneous temporary and permanent art installations
- The Japanese Gardens – also walk inside
- Replica of the Washington Monument
- Replica of the Washington, DC Reflecting Pool
- Statue of General Sam Houston on his horse (the most famous statue in Houston)
- Miller Outdoor Theatre (MOT)
- Oliver Twist Statue
Bathrooms are located in various sites in Hermann Park as well as just outside the zoo, at the Miller Outdoor Theatre, and inside the Houston Museum of Natural Science.
In case you are interested in planning the day of your walking tour when museums are free and or you want to know the prices of some popular activities, we provide the following information:
The HMNS is free on Thursday afternoons after 2:00 PM. For the most up to date information, call (713) 639-4629.
The Hermann Park Conservancy maintains the train and pedal boats in the park. For the most up to date information, call (713) 524-5876.
The Houston Zoo opens at 9:00 AM everyday. The zoo has a restaurant in it, also. For the most up to date information, call (713) 533-6500.
The tour begins and ends in front of the Houston Zoo at 6200 Golf Course Drive, Houston, Texas 77030. Free parking abounds there for 3 hours. You may want to stay at Hermann Park to enjoy the options. A McDonald’s restaurant is located in the HMNS if you want to stay for lunch. The Zoo also has restaurants, and the Pinewood Café exists a few yards/meters north of the Zoo.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour K — Hermann Park II and The Museum District South of Binz/Bissonnet. This is north and east of the Hermann Park Drive and between Montrose Boulevard to the west and Almeda Road to the east.
This is one of the prettiest walks as it goes through the McGovern Centennial Gardens & Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion. This is a relaxing tour around the golf course and to three (3) museums outside of Hermann Park, one (1) museum in Hermann Park, and a variety of statues, monuments, and public art exhibits. This walk is approximately 3.0 to 3.5 miles/4.8 to 5.6 kilometers.
Outside of Hermann Park, we walk by and or in the:
- Three Mecom Fountains
- Richard & Annette Bloch Cancer Survivors Plaza
- Mecom-Rockwell Colonnade from the old 1922 columns of the original Miller Outdoor Theatre
- Museum of Fine Arts Houston (MFAH)
- Children’s Museum of Houston (CMH)
- John P. McGovern Museum of Health and Medical Science AKA the Health Museum
Inside Hermann Park’s Garden Center, we walk by and through:
- McGovern Centennial Gardens & Cherie Flores Garden Pavilion
- The “Tower of Babel” and Waterfall
- Chinese Pagoda
- Chinese Lantern
- Statue of Mahatma Gandhi
- Statue of Martin Luther King, Jr.
- Statue of Confucius
Busts of over one-half dozen busts of Spanish explorers and Latin American revolutionary liberators and heroes of the 1800s including - Simon Bolivar
- Cabeza de Vaca
- Benito Juarez
- Jose Marti
- Bernardo O’Higgins
- Jose de San Martin
- Vicente Fuerte
- Robert Burns
- Many flowers
Children will love going up and down the ramps of the “Tower of Babel.”
Inside Hermann Park, we will walk by and or inside:
- Miscellaneous temporary art installations
- The Statue of General Sam Houston on his horse (the most famous statue in Houston)
- The Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS)
- HMNS sundial fountain
- HMNS floating sphere fountain
- Hermann Park Golf Course
In case you are interested in planning the day of your walking tour when museums are free and or you want to know the prices of some popular activities, we provide the following information:
The MFAH is free all day on Thursdays. It is closed on Monday. It opens on Sunday at 12:15 PM and on Tuesday through Saturday at 10:00 AM. For the most up to date information, call (713) 639-7300.
The Children’s Museum is closed on Monday. It opens at 12:00 PM on Sunday and at 10:00 AM on Tuesday through Saturday. For the most up to date information, call (713) 522-1138.
The Health Museum is free on Thursday after 2:00 PM. It is closed on Monday. It opens at 12:00 PM on Sunday and at 9:00 AM on Tuesday through Saturday. For the most up to date information, call (713) 521-1515.
The HMNS is free on Thursday afternoons after 2:00 PM. It opens everyday at 9:00 AM. For the most up to date information, call (713) 639-4629.
The MFAH and HMNS each have restaurants and bathrooms open to the public. The Houston Garden Center also has a bathroom and concession machines.
The tour begins and ends in front of the Houston Garden Center at 1500 Hermann Drive, Houston, Texas 77004. The telephone number for the Houston Garden Center is (713) 284-1986, although it should not be necessary to use. Free parking for 3 hours is available here.Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour L — Galleries North of Between US 59 and West Alabama on Main Street and Montrose Boulevard
The lifetime and location of art galleries can be short; please understand if changes occur.
This tour includes two main areas of galleries. We go inside over one-half dozen galleries with a wide variety of styles of art.
The lifetime and location of art galleries can be short; please understand if changes occur.
The tour begins and ends behind 4411 Montrose Boulevard and Woodrow Street, Houston, Texas 77006. Parking is available in lots on the north and south side of Woodrow Street as well as on the street and Greeley Street.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour M — Galleries Between Buffalo Speedway and Dunlavy
This tour has more galleries on it than any other tour. It is a relatively short one, covering approximately 2.5 to 3.0 miles/4.0 to 4.8 kilometers. If they are all open, one could go in approximately fifteen galleries; eleven of which are within 4 blocks. You will also see unique residential architecture from the 1980s to the present mixed with 1940s quaint clapboard homes.
The lifetime and location of art galleries can be short; please understand if changes occur.
The tour begins and ends at the Dessert Gallery located at 3600 Kirby Drive, Houston, Texas 77098, on the southwest intersection with Richmond Avenue. You may want to eat there or at any of over one dozen restaurants in the area.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour N —The Houston Heights I – 22nd to 12th Street
This tour covers a lot of territory with many sites. It is about 3.5 to 4.0 miles/5.6 to 6.4 kilometers. It is very scenic and historic. The Houston Heights was the first suburb of Houston, being established in 1892 with a streetcar enabling people to commute two rivers/bayous away to Houston. The elite lived here from 1892 until approximately 1906 when newer and closer neighborhoods opened in Houston. It was just one of one-half dozen Heights. It includes walking by:
- Yale Street Grill since 1923.
- Helms Elementary School Nature Garden
- The site of the Candy Man’s nefarious deeds. He was a serial, homosexual, pedophilia, cannibalistic killer.
- The Kraftsman Bakery and Cafe
- Over 1 dozen antique and resale shops
- Penzeys Spices
- Nursery
- HITS Theatre
- Opera In The Heights
- Marmion Park, site of the former Daniel Denton Cooley house from 1893 to 1965.
- Houston Theosophical Society
- Reagan Masonic Lodge
- The Noble Lady, a day spa
- Heights Funeral Home, the oldest in Houston
- Paul Carr Jogging Trail
- Milroy Park
- Former Houston Heights City Hall from 1914 to 1918
- Heights Library, the oldest branch library in the Houston Public Library system, from 1926
- John Reagan High School
- Early 1900s gas station
- Alleged site where Bonnie and Clyde hid in 1931
- Some of the best collection of Victorian homes with patios and balconies in Houston
- Former Heights High School, now the Alexander Hamilton Middle School
The tour begins and ends at the McDonalds at 2022 Yale Street, Houston, Texas 77008. You may want to have lunch there, at the Yale Street Grill located across the street, or at any of the five or six restaurants on 19th Street.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour O — Sawyer Heights, Woodland Heights, and The Houston Heights II – Spring Street to 11th Street
Tour O – Sawyer Heights, Woodland Heights, and The Houston Heights II
Spring Street to 11th Street – This tour of the Heights is more diverse as it goes through three different Heights. This is one of the two most strenuous hikes as we cover about 4.0 to 4.5 miles/5.6 to 6.4 kilometers and have some mild grade differences. We begin by walking along the Rail to Trails bike path. We have one bathroom and refreshment break and a couple of other walking breaks. Some of the highlights of the tour are seeing:
- White Oak Park
- Narrow walking bridge over a creek
- Stude Park and artwork
- Fitzgerald’s
- Private statues on public display of works of art in Woodland Heights
- 11th Street/Ruggles Cafe
- Art galleries along 11th Street
- World War II Memorial
- Gazebo
- House
- Waldo’s Coffee Cafe
- Victorian homes
- Sara’s Inn – one of less than 10 B&Bs in Houston
- Antique stores
- Donovan Park
- Walking over White Oak Bayou using the Rails to Trails bike path.
The tour begins and ends outside the Target located at 2580 Shearn Street, Houston, Texas 77007. This is accessed by Exit #767B/Taylor Street, off of I-10. Target has a Starbucks and Pizza Hut located inside. Several other restaurants are in the parking lot area.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour P — The Montrose Area
This is one of the most eclectic neighborhoods in Houston. Long known as the center of the gay population of Houston, it was established in the early 1900s and has some lovely and historic homes. This will cover Hyde Park, Audubon Place, Westmoreland Place, and more. We will walk past Courtlandt Place to stare at some of the most elite homes and people of Houston on their private street. We will walk past:
- The house in which Clark Gable lived when he was a local theater performer and womanizer of older ladies.
- The house in which Lyndon Baines Johnson lived when he was an aspiring schoolteacher.
- The Waldo Mansion, the oldest residential house still resided within in Houston.
- Mayor Annise Parker’s home.
- French Alliance.
- Morty Rich Hostel.
- KPFT radio headquarters.
- Several other historic homes including Victorian and the Craftman style. This was a dominant style for smaller houses built throughout the country from approximately 1900 to 1930. They are known for their artful design including landscaping, and the interior and exterior home. It encouraged originality, simplicity of form, using local natural materials, and the visibility of handicraft.
- Spec’s liquor outlet store.
- Many restaurants, stores, and clubs along Westheimer Road, Montrose Boulevard, and Grant Street.v
The tour begins and ends at the Jack in the Box at 3220 Montrose Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77006 at Lovett Boulevard. Look for parking on the nearby streets.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour Q — The Rice Village and Rice University Area
This tour is a shopper’s delight. The Rice Village has over 200 businesses and some of the greatest variety of restaurants and bars. Many , if not most of the stores, are female boutiques. Ethnic venues include British, Chinese, French, Greek, Indian, Irish, Italian, Jewish style, Scottish, Thai, Turkish, and Vietnamese. Miscellaneous establishments include delis, bakeries, and coffee, wine, chocolate, ice cream, and yogurt restaurants. The first hour of the tour is mostly in the Village. The latter half of the tour is largely on the Rice University campus. Rice is the most prestigious institution of higher education in Texas and all of the Deep South. Its campus is beautiful and sprawling. It was found in 1912. We will walk through two or three buildings as well as seeing the grand architecture of others. We will see the statue of William Marsh Rice that rests over the ashes from his cremation. The tour is approximately 3.5 to 4.0 miles/5.6 to 6.4 kilometers.
The tour begins and ends at La Madeleine at 6205 Kirby Drive, Houston, Texas 77005.
The University of Houston Tour R
This tour covers the largest university in Houston with over 47,000 students. It is third largest university in Texas and reached Tier I status in 2011. It was found in 1927 as a junior college. For high culture, we will go to the:
- Blaffer Gallery,
- Moores Opera House, and the
- Wortham Theatre.
For low culture, we will see the:
- Cougar Baseball Field,
- Hofheinz Pavilion, once home to the Houston Rockets, and
- Robertson Stadium, once home to the Houston Oilers the Houston Dynamo, in addition to be being the home for the UH Cougars and TSU Panthers.
We will walk through the:
- University Center (UC),
- UC Satellite, where we will take a break,
- MD Anderson Library, and the
- College of Architecture building with the Parthenon replica on the roof.
We also see the KUHF/KUHT broadcasting building, the Conrad N. Hilton College of Hotel and Restaurant Management, and dozens of works of art, including the Statue of the Four Lies, and two replicas of Shasta, the traditional cougar mascot, on the UH campus.
Some places may be closed between semesters and on weekends.
The tour begins and ends on the first floor in front of the University of Houston’s (UH) 4-story parking garage on the southwest corner of University Drive and Calhoun Road, Houston, Texas 77004. The entrance is on Calhoun Road, across the street from the Campus Recreation and Wellness Center. Park on the second floor in the Visitors parking area. Two restaurants, vending machines, and bathrooms are on the first floor of this complex. The cost of the parking is approximately $7.00. If one is going to UH via I-45, exit #44B/Spur 5 to get there and then turn right on University Drive.
Texas Southern University (TSU) –Tour S
This tour covers the second largest predominantly African American university in the nation and the second largest university in Houston. It has over 9,000 students. TSU was found as Texas State University for Negroes, in 1947. Its name changed to its current one in 1951. We will cover the campus, including seeing an old cornerstone with the original name, the African art exhibit and Barbara Jordan exhibit, and go to the Texas Southern University Museum, provided it is open. The TSU Museum has artwork from its longtime Department of Art chairperson and world-famous muralist John Biggers. We will go inside the Thurgood Marshall School of Law, visit the Student Center for a break, and walk along Tiger Walk.Some places may be closed between semesters and on weekends.
The tour begins and ends by the parking garage on the north side of Cleburne Street and to the east of Tierwester Street, Houston, Texas 77004. The parking garage charges a fee that is usually under $10.00.
Memorial Park I - North of Memorial Drive - Tour T
On this walk, we will go by the tennis courts, golf course, soccer fields, timing track, several exercise areas, the swimming pool, an abandoned road, playgrounds, an abandoned softball field, the historical marker detailing the history of the biggest riot in Texas history that had its origins at Memorial Park when it was Camp Logan in August 1917, and the Beck’s Prime. The paths are generally wide and level, although one can explore into the forest. It is approximately 3.5 – 4.0 miles/5.6 to 6.4 kilometers.
The tour begins and ends at the Memorial Park Tennis Center at 1500 West Memorial Loop, Houston, Texas 77007. It is on page 492K in the Key Map book. It is off of I-10, Exit #764, Washington Avenue, Westcott Drive, Katy, Memorial Park from either east or west.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour II —Primarily South of Memorial Drive - Tour U
This has a fascinating series of trails. We start by walking on one or more of the trails within the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center. You can visit the Discovery Room and the Nature Gift Shop in the museum building. We proceed to follow the path along Woodway Drive and will walk in one of the mountain bike trails that are located in the remote heavy forest. Soldiers created these mountain bike trails as trenches when this was Camp Logan as they prepared for World War I, in 1917. We will also go by softball, soccer, and football fields, volleyball courts, the picnic area and more. It is approximately 3.5 – 4.0 miles/5.6 to 6.4 kilometers.
This tour begins and ends at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center at 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, Texas 77024-7708. This is off of I-610, Exit #10, Woodway Drive, Memorial Drive from the south or #10A, Woodway Drive, Memorial Drive from the north.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour V —
This tour begins and ends at the Houston Arboretum & Nature Center at 4501 Woodway Drive, Houston, Texas 77024-7708. This is off of I-610, Exit #10, Woodway Drive, Memorial Drive from the south or #10A, Woodway Drive, Memorial Drive from the north
This is the River Oaks for the Dead. It is a lovely setting on rolling hills between Washington Avenue and Memorial Drive. Many beautiful statuaries and fountains are located here. It was chartered in 1871 and began operations in 1872. It is the permanent resting place for Howard Hughes, Gene Tierney, Glenn McCarthy, George Hermann, Henry MacGregor, Eugene Thomas Heiner, Anson Jones, Ron Stone, Clark Gable’s second wife, the Allen family, the Rice family, the Baker family, the Botts family, the Hobby family, the Autry family, the Blaffer family, the Cooley family, the Masterson family, and many other notable Houstonians. Washington Cemetery, formerly known as German Cemetery, is adjacent to it. It was established in 1887. Many of the old headstones are in German. We will go into this cemetery, also. The only cross-dressing woman to receive a federal pension for her service in the Civil War is buried there. The terrain has many inclines and declines making it a more strenuous route than most of the walking tours. This walk is approximately 3.0 to 3.5 miles/4.8 to 5.6 kilometers.
The tour begins and ends inside the main entrance off to the west side so as to not block traffic. The address is 2525 Washington Avenue, Houston, Texas 77007. Find parking across the street from it on any of the side streets.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour W — Greenway Plaza and Lakewood Church
Greenway Plaza opened in 1973. It was Houston’s first mixed-used development with businesses, restaurants, offices, and residences. It has 10 buildings ranging from 11 to 31 floors. Lakewood Church is in a building that was erected from 1973 to 1975. It originally was called The Summit from 1975 to 1998 and then The Compaq Center from 1998 to 2003. It was a multi-purpose sports arena, and entertainment venue for concerts, the circus, and high school graduations. It is the largest church in the United States with 43,500 members locally and 80,000 worldwide. It has 16,800 seats. It has six services weekly: four in English and two in Spanish. The Lakewood congregation moved into the abandoned building on July 16, 2005. Its main pastor, Joel Osteen, is the world’s most famous televangelist. The gift shop is open during the day Monday through Friday.
The tour begins and ends outside the front entrance of Lakewood Church on the west side of Timmons Lane. Lakewood Church’s address is 3700 Southwest Freeway, Houston, Texas 77027. One can park either in front of the church on Timmons Lane or in the underground parking of Greenway Plaza for a fee.
Outside of Downtown Houston Walking Tour X
To be announced. Suggest something.