Women have played significant roles in the history of Houston’s cultural development. Some have had talent; some have had resources; some have had influence as powerful journalists or fundraisers. Among these women were Houston’s cultural impresario Edna Saunders and the formidable journalist Wille Hutcheson. Three other remarkable women, however, were historically strategic in shaping Houston’s […]
Archive | Parks
More than a Museum: Living History and a Vibrant Future at The Heritage Society in Sam Houston Park
Tucked between the high-rises that make up Houston’s iconic skyline sits Sam Houston Park. The city’s first municipal park, which was known as City Park until 1902, Sam Houston Park has long been a place where Houstonians go to escape the hustle and bustle of downtown, but it is more than that. With several of […]
Preserving History: The Importance of Independence Heights
I remember the first time I saw the sign that read “Independence Heights: Historic Houston Community.” It piqued my curiosity, and that interest stayed with me. As the years went by, townhomes that reigned on the other side of the 610 Loop began creeping into the historic neighborhood. As the landscape changed and the old […]
Making Memories at Miller Outdoor Theatre: A Centennial of the Arts
By Samantha de León Miller Outdoor Theatre during a summer symphony night. All photos courtesy of Miller Outdoor Theatre. In February 1969, forty-six years after Miller Outdoor Theatre opened and a year after moving into its new facility, Houston Chronicle fine arts editor Ann Holmes questioned what was next for the outdoor amphitheater. Nestled in […]
The Spirit of the Houston Shakespeare Festival
By Andrew Tello Dean Coutris played Julius Caesar in the 2019 production. The costumes offer a modern-day take on the classic Shakespeare tale. Photo courtesy of Pin Lim. No writer in the English language can lay claim to the fame of William Shakespeare, who has amassed a global fanbase in the four centuries since his […]
Table of Contents 19.2 Community Engagement
Download the full pdf here 19.2 Letter from the Editor, Debbie Z. Harwell 2Dr. Sue Garrison: The Inspiration Behind Generations of Educators and LeadersBy Debbie Z. Harwell8Latino cARTographies: Mapping the Past, Present, and Future of Houston’s Latino Visual ArtBy Pamela Anne Quiroz and Juana Guzman14Establishing the University of Houston: “May We All Cherish This School Always” By Grace Conroy17Shakespeare For All: The Spirit of the Houston Shakespeare FestivalBy Andrew Tello22From the ArchivesDr. Richard I. Evans […]
It Is There I Feel the Spirit: Houston’s Third Ward
By Marie-Theresa Hernández and Naomi Mitchell Carrier The objects you find in Third Ward show you everything you’re willing to see. You look at this car, and what do you see? I see time. The time before the transition. A car that is the 1960s equivalent of a Mercedes today. The Civil Rights Movement is […]
Tracking Houston Perceptions in Remarkable Times
Debbie Harwell and Stephen Klineberg at the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University. A Conversation with Stephen L. Klineberg and Debbie Z. Harwell This year marks the thirty-ninth annual Houston Area Survey produced by the Kinder Institute for Urban Research at Rice University under the direction of Dr. Stephen Klineberg. The survey, which […]
Houston’s Oldest House Gets a New Life
Those familiar with Houston history may be able to tell you that the oldest house in the city still standing on its original property is the 1847 Kellum-Noble House in Sam Houston Park. Although owned by the City, The Heritage Society (THS), a non-profit organization, has maintained the home for the past sixty-five years. Recently, […]
Gandhi’s Legacy
By Manuel Martinez Alvarenga Mahatma Gandhi Statue at Hermann Park. Courtesy of Author. If you find yourself in the heart of Houston, chances are you have driven by Hermann Park, a green and interactive park with a large recreation area for picnics, casual strolls, and sightseeing nestled within an arm’s reach of the Texas Medical […]