First Ward. Third Ward. Fifth Ward. More than a century after Houston did away with its ward system, the old names are still very much alive. But where did they come from, and what did they originally mean? In this session, Programs and Communications Director Jim Parsons will trace the history of Houston’s six wards, from their creation as political districts in the 19th century to their enduring place in the city today.

Have you ever wanted to research a building or neighborhood in Houston, but didn’t know where to begin? Start at the Houston Public Library. In this session, Ginger Berni, architecture archivist at the Houston History Research Center, will guide you through the maze of resources available at the library.

This is a repeat presentation, offered in response to strong interest.

Every building has a story, and there are many tools available to help you discover yours. In this Time & Place session, Preservation Services Director Emily Ardoin will introduce a selection of mostly free, online tools for researching the history of a home or other building in Houston. She’ll also share practical search tips and guidance on how to interpret what you find.

Every building has a story, and there are many tools available to help you discover yours. In this Time & Place session, Preservation Services Director Emily Ardoin will introduce a selection of mostly free, online tools for researching the history of a home or other building in Houston. She’ll also share practical search tips and guidance on how to interpret what you find.

Join us for the launch of Time & Place, Preservation Houston’s new midday talk series exploring how preservation and history shape the places we share. Our first session, Plaque to Basics: Historic Designations Explained, starts with something we hear often: “There was a plaque on that building — so why was it torn down?”