Julia Ideson Building, Houston

Julia Ideson Building, Houston

First opened in 1926, this stunning building – the original location for the Houston Public Library – has an urban legend as being haunted by the ghost of its former groundskeeper and that of Petey, his dog. In the evenings, Cramer, who lived in the basement, would go up to the third floor and play his violin, accompanied by the German Shepherd. In November of 1936, the 79-year-old was found dead by the librarians, and not much is known about the dog's ulterior fate.

Sitting right next to City Hall, the three-story Spanish-Renaissance style building has since been named after Julia Ideson, who served in her role as the city's first Head Librarian for forty years. Following a multi-million dollar restoration project, it currently houses the Metropolitan Research Center that holds a massive collection of millions of historic photographs, thousands of volumes of rare children's books, a 1520 edition of The Odyssey, and a 1615 edition of Don Quixote.

If you're looking for a repose downtown and actually enjoy reading, go to the second-floor reading room, or just climb to the third floor (now occupied by the Tudor Gallery) and check out the view, which has to be seen to be believed.

Want to visit this sight? Check out these Self-Guided Walking Tours in Houston. Alternatively, you can download the mobile app "GPSmyCity: Walks in 1K+ Cities" from Apple App Store or Google Play Store. The app turns your mobile device to a personal tour guide and it works offline, so no data plan is needed when traveling abroad.

Download The GPSmyCity App

Julia Ideson Building on Map

Sight Name: Julia Ideson Building
Sight Location: Houston, USA (See walking tours in Houston)
Sight Type: Attraction/Landmark
Guide(s) Containing This Sight:

Walking Tours in Houston, Texas

Create Your Own Walk in Houston

Create Your Own Walk in Houston

Creating your own self-guided walk in Houston is easy and fun. Choose the city attractions that you want to see and a walk route map will be created just for you. You can even set your hotel as the start point of the walk.
Historic Downtown Walking Tour

Historic Downtown Walking Tour

Clean, shiny, new, and impressive, Downtown Houston – a true metropolis – rises high above the dusty plains and swamplands of Texas. Just like the other major Texan city of Dallas, Houston has been described as a concrete jungle (or a spaghetti bowl) of endless freeways. Yet, it somehow manages to tower over the stream of engines, with a glittering uber-American presence. There is much to...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 2.7 Km or 1.7 Miles
Museum District Tour

Museum District Tour

Houston is often considered more of a business obligation than a tourist destination, which is unfortunate since many of the city's museums and cultural attractions are first-rate. Those who make the effort to visit them, be it for personal or professional reasons, will discover several days' worth of intriguing activities. To maximize your experiences during a brief visit, head to the...  view more

Tour Duration: 2 Hour(s)
Travel Distance: 3.4 Km or 2.1 Miles