The George R. Brown Convention Center was opened in 1987. It is one of the ten largest convention centers in the United States. The Center offers dining facilities, accommodations, and sports and cultural events. It features seven exhibition halls, four conference rooms, a theater, and the famous George Bush Grand Ballroom.

The Christ Church Cathedral is the oldest worshiping congregation in Houston, and is also one of the most interesting. This facility has been around since 1839. In those days, Texas was not part of the United States, and Houston was actually the capital of the Republic of Texas. The members of this church are among some of the first families to colonize the area. This congregation also founded the Trinity Church of Houston.

The other interesting thing about this church is that the congregation is still in its original building. That is saying something considering the fact that the church caught fire in 1938. The heroic efforts of one fireman helped to save the church. The building was able to be repaired.

The building was designed in a late Gothic Revival style of architecture. As such, it is one of the only churches done in this style in town. The designer was Silas McBee, who was quite famous in his day for his innovative designs. The church was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the year 1979.

The Market Square District of Houston has just recently become a prominent part of the downtown area. There is a park is the area also, which is very much a part of the neighborhood now. The main lawn area is where the old City Hall used to stand. It is located at the intersection of Travis, Milam, Congress and Preston. The location is full of historical structures, wonderful restaurants, and nightclubs that can all be reached quickly.

Yet the park is very new. For instance, there is a great dog run in the park now. You may also want to note the beautiful colored benches and pictures that surround the sidewalks. James Surd’s sculpture, called “Points of View” is also a must see in the park. There is also a memorial here to Lauren Grand colas, who was one of the victims of Flight 93 on September 11, 2001.

The park is open from 6:00 a.m. until 11:00 p.m. every day. The Market Square is open from 7:00 a.m. until 8:00 p.m. each day.

The Sesquicentennial Park is a wonderful memorial to the 150th birthday of Houston. The city was founded in 1836 and visiting this 10 acre park on the banks of the Buffalo Bayou is a delightful way to celebrate. There is plenty of space to take a walk, bike, have a picnic, read a book on a spring day or just let the kids get a little time to run. The park was built in two phases and took fourteen years to complete.

There are several different features that really add interest. Most noticeable are the Seven Wonders. These are seven-seventy foot tall poles that depict notable events in the progression of Houston’s history which include energy, medicine, and technology, just to name a few. Children and adults alike will love the children’s drawings that have been permanently etched in stainless steel on the poles.

There is also a shady promenade that is lined with cypress trees and lovely pedestrian bridge that connects the east and west sides of the park. Part of the charm of the bridge is the replica of street lights from the city’s history. Be sure and bring your camera as there is a picturesque overlook of downtown Houston. There is also a monument to George Bush, the 41st President of the United States.

This park frequently hosts special events, so be sure to check the schedule when in town. The park is open daily from 9 am to 5pm.

Tranquility Park is located in a busy, bustling part of Houston, so the name seems to be a bit of a misnomer. However, the Park is named for the Sea of Tranquility. The park was dedicated to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the Apollo 11 mission to land on the moon. The surface of the park has crater like features that simulate the Moon’s surface which is a rather interesting feature.

Another interesting feature of the park is the cylindrical water fountains that are a bit reminiscent of the Apollo rocket boosters that powered the spacecraft out of Earth’s orbit. There are plaques around the entrance of the park that commemorate the words spoken by Neil Armstrong when the Lunar Lander first landed on the moon, “Houston, Tranquility base here. The Eagle has landed.” These words are written in several different languages and add a nice touch of solemnity to the park.

The water features, the fun landscape of the park and the walkways all make this an interesting place to visit. It is quieter during the weekends, when there is generally less city traffic, so that may be a good time to visit. Occasionally, there are also festivals and special activities held here, so be sure to check the park schedule before visiting. The park is located at 400 Rusk Street and is open every day.

One Shell Plaza is one of the architectural marvels of Houston. It stands 50 stories tall, and covers more than 1.6 million square feet. It is a travertine oriented tower that has a slight taper to the building. You have to really look at it to see the taper though. One can also note the very closely spaced columns that help to frame the windows of the structure, making it look very different than your typical sky scraper. The design makes the building look as if there is a gentle undulation to the building.

The construction was completed in 1971. It was designed by firm of Skidmore, Owings & Merritt. It cost $39 million dollars to build. It towers a whopping 715 feet into the air. In 1980, it was renovated, costing over $80 million dollars.

On the 49th Floor, there is a wonderful restaurant, called the Plaza Club. The site has room for over 300 cars in the parking garage, and another 1,000 across the street. So, the site is quite popular for meetings.

The Sam Houston Park was established in 1899 on 20 acres of land in Houston. The centerpiece of the park was the path by the mill and stream. There was also a house on the property that was being used as a school, as well as an older bridge that crossed the stream. This made for a rather picturesque little park.

In 1954 the Heritage Society was formed. One of the projects was to save older homes and buildings that were destined for destruction as a more modern Houston was evolving. Some of these older homes that would fit into the theme of the park were moved to this location. The resulting park is now a treasure trove of several different styles of older building that would have been lost forever.

These buildings have been lovingly restored and include a log cabin circa 1820, one of the oldest brick buildings in Houston that was built in 1847 and the home that had the first electric lights in town. This park is a must see for anyone that loves older homes or history. There is also a museum to visit in the park and it is open Tuesday through Saturday, 10 am to 4 pm, and on Sundays from 1 pm to 4 pm. The homes are available for tours, but prior arrangements must be made with the Heritage Society by calling 713-655-1912. There are also special holiday festivities around Thanksgiving and Christmas.

The Heritage Society Museum was started in the year 1954. It was the brain child of Faith Moore and Marie Phelps, two prominent members of the Houston area. The museum was designed to help preserve the history of this part of Texas. The building is located on Bagby Street in downtown Houston. The property also contains the Kellum Noble House, which was saved from destruction when the area was made into a museum.

This is the only interactive museum of its kind in the city that is completely built outdoors. It constitutes 19 acres, which is completely green and wonderful to enjoy. Besides the Kellum Noble property, there are also seven other historic sites here, that range in age from a little over 100 years old to almost 200 years. Each building has been completely restored.

It is a very popular site among local schools and nonprofit organizations. The park makes it possible for thousands of children each year to learn about what life was like in Houston during the 1800s. In those days, life in the big city was still frontier like.