The city of Houston TX is a diverse and vibrant place. It boasts world-class arts, booming business, and pro sports. It is also home to many colleges.
Located in the heart of downtown, Houston’s Theater District features restaurants, movies, plazas and parks. It hosts touring Broadway shows and concerts. The city is also famous for its museums.
The History
Three events over a sixty-year span transformed Houston from a sleepy town to the Southwest’s most populous city. First came the discovery of oil in 1901; then in 1914 the colossal project to turn Buffalo Bayou into a ship channel opened the way for business booms.
In 1836 the Allen brothers from New York bought land at the convergence of Buffalo and White Oak bayous to establish a new town. They hire Gail Borden (publisher and originator of condensed milk) to survey the site and lay out streets 80 feet wide.
This period ushers in a Chamber of Commerce and Texas’ first newspaper, and later statehood. During the Civil War, Houston serves as a vital transportation and commercial center for the Confederacy. Its role as a trading hub grows with improvements to the Buffalo Bayou and the construction of railroads.
The Culture
Houston’s culture is a blend of world-class arts, booming business, pro sports, and award-winning cuisine. It is also home to many different cultures and traditions, making it a very diverse city.
The city was founded by two brothers, John K. Allen and Augustus Allen, and named after Sam Houston, who led the army that won Texas’ independence from Mexico. The city became a thriving center of commerce and industry after its inception.
In the 20th century, the city matured culturally and socially. The Texas Medical Center became the world’s largest medical complex, and Dominique de Menil built the Rothko Chapel. The city is also home to many different types of music, from jazz to chamber music to pop. There are also many theatres, including the Ensemble Theatre, which gives voice to the African-American community, and Talento Bilingue de Houston, which spotlights Latino playwrights.
The Weather
A weak front has stalled out along the coast and will likely bring us some drier air later today, but the heat isn’t going anywhere fast. Skies should be mostly sunny with a high temperature of around 98 degrees and the heat index reaching 100. There’s a 10 to 20 percent chance of rain near the coast, but it won’t amount to much more than a tenth of an inch or two.
The upcoming season looks drier than normal, but we’ll have some nice weather in mid to late January and early February. This summer is expected to be hotter and drier than usual, with the most active time for tropical storms coming in late June and early July. This year, however, Tropical Storm Idalia appears to be staying far away from Texas.
The Attractions
From sports to art to culinary delights, Houston is a huge city with massive attractions. Spend the day lounging at one of America’s largest metropolitan parks or dawdling in ancient art museums. Or, take in the spectacle of a rodeo event and top musical performers.
Science doesn’t have to be boring at the Houston Museum of Natural Science. From dinosaur bones to solar systems, this museum offers a variety of topics that will entertain and educate visitors.
If you’re a lover of art, you’ll find a treasure trove in Houston’s Museum District with 19 museums in this compact area of Downtown. Many of these museums are within walking distance of each other, including the Menil Collection and Rothko Chapel. Those who love to save money should check out the Houston CityPASS which covers five of the most popular attractions.
The People
The city’s history is intertwined with the energy industry, and people from around the world have found employment here. This has resulted in a diverse culture that is unique to the city.
Locals know Houston for its mix of world-class arts, booming business, pro sports, and award-winning cuisine. National headlines cite it as the New Capital of Southern Cool, and magazines call it “a culinary destination unlike any other” (GQ).
In addition to being highly ethnically diverse, Greater Houston is also one of the fastest-growing cities in the United States. 145 languages are spoken in the city, and 90 nations have consular representation here. This gives residents the opportunity to experience a variety of different cultures, traditions, and cuisines on a daily basis. This makes Houston a fun and exciting place to live for both locals and visitors alike.