Our history

For nearly 50 years, Preservation Houston has championed the city’s architectural and cultural heritage, working to save significant places and celebrate the people who built them. Through bold campaigns and forward-looking initiatives, we’ve become a leading voice for honoring Houston’s past — and planning for its future.

1978

Greater Houston Preservation Alliance is established as an independent offshoot of The Heritage Society, creating a citywide organization dedicated to saving Houston’s historic architecture and places.

A walking tour group in the 300 block of Main Street, 1980 / *photo from PH file*

1979

GHPA launches two enduring programs: the Good Brick Awards for excellence in historic preservation and walking tours of historic neighborhoods.

1980

GHPA, in partnership with the Heritage Society and the Cultural Arts Council of Houston, publishes its first book, Last of the Past: Houston Architecture, 1847 to 1915.

Our focus on the Market Square neighborhood included the publication of a booklet on the opportunities presented by historic district revitalization / *from the PH file*

1986

The organization produces a comprehensive revitalization study for the Old Sixth Ward, one of the city’s most intact historic residential neighborhoods.

1988

GHPA coordinates a symposium focused on revitalizing the downtown historic district, leading to the establishment of a Main Street program to promote economic development around Market Square.

1991

GHPA drafts and advocates for the passage of an early protective ordinance for historic buildings, leading to the denial or delay of demolition permits for hundreds of significant structures.

The iconic Astrodome has been a focus of our advocacy efforts since before the stadium’s doors closed to the public / *photo from PH file*

1995

GHPA works with representatives of historic neighborhoods to pass Houston’s first citywide preservation ordinance, opening the door to full protection for qualifying historic structures.

2006

GHPA focuses its advocacy efforts on the possible demolition of the River Oaks and Alabama theaters, leading to the 2008 publication of the book Houston Deco to bring attention to Houston’s underappreciated Art Deco gems.

2008

GHPA launches the Save Our Astrodome campaign to encourage the preservation of the iconic stadium.

2012

GHPA rebrands as Preservation Houston, introducing a new logo and tagline: History in Progress.

2013

Preservation Houston launches Pier & Beam, a member group aimed at engaging the next generation of Houston preservationists.

2014

Preservation Houston holds its first annual Good Brick Tour to give the public an inside look at exceptionally preserved homes and buildings.

2017

Preservation Houston leads efforts to help owners of historic buildings and residents of neighborhoods affected by widespread flooding during Hurricane Harvey by consulting with state and federal officials, providing disaster recovery resources and identifying grants for qualifying entities.

2020

Preservation Houston begins offering Digital Architecture Walks, virtual looks at historic neighborhoods during the Covid pandemic that become the basis of a robust collection of recorded tours and programs available to PH members and the public.

2023

Preservation Houston receives a $300,000 grant from Houston Endowment to support capacity building and organizational growth, an investment in the organization’s future as the leader in local historic preservation.

For information about Preservation Houston's past and present work, visit the News section of our website and browse our archive of newsletters dating back to 1981. You can also download our Year in Review, an overview of our activities for the years: