Advance ticket purchase is required for this walking tour. Scroll down to reserve tickets.
The section of downtown east of Main Street is a study in transformation. Once home to Quality Hill — Houston’s most fashionable residential neighborhood in the 19th century — the area shifted toward commerce with the expansion of the business district and the arrival of Union Station in 1911. By the late 20th century, sweeping redevelopment projects like Houston Center and the George R. Brown Convention Center had dramatically reshaped the landscape. Today, the neighborhood is a layered mix of small commercial buildings, early skyscrapers and sleek modern towers.
This 90-minute, docent-guided walking tour traces the area’s evolution through architecture both historic and contemporary — from landmarks like Union Station and the 1915 Texas Company Building to Discovery Green, whose creation sparked nearly $2 billion in surrounding development.
This is an exterior architecture tour only. The tour will not go inside any buildings. There are no public restrooms along the tour route.
About the tour
Advance tickets are required and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unfortunately, we can’t accommodate walk-ups on the day of the tour.
After you register, we’ll send parking and check-in details to your e-mail.
Please note that tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable unless Preservation Houston cancels or reschedules the tour. In the event of severe weather, we’ll be in touch as soon as possible to discuss options.
Do you have an Architecture Walks pass?
If you have joined Preservation Houston and received a pass for a free Architecture Walk, you may redeem the pass for admission to this tour. E-mail tours@preservationhouston.org and we'll be happy to help.
Passes are redeemable subject to ticket availability.