Architecture Walks
Main Street in the early 1960s, looking north from McKinney Avenue / postcard from PH file
Next tour: 20th Century Main Street, May 18
Advance ticket purchase is required for this tour.
A walk along Main Street in downtown Houston is a walk through the city's business development and its changing architectural tastes. As Houston's business district grew in the 20th century, the street was built up with soaring skyscrapers, busy hotels, ornate movie theaters and lavish department stores. Suburbanization brought an end to downtown's heyday as a shopping and entertainment destination, but many of the buildings from this era of growth and glamour still stand, giving us a fascinating look at the Bayou City's past.
Highlights of our 90-minute docent-guided walking tour include the 1929 Gulf Building, the city's Art Deco masterpiece; the former First City National Bank Building, a modernist landmark since its completion in 1961; and Alfred C. Finn's 1951 building for Sakowitz department store, which has evolved from an elegant retail establishment to a marble-clad parking garage. As we discuss the history and architecture of these and other Main Street structures, we'll also learn about the street's changing role in an ever-expanding city.
Learn more about this tour or reserve your tickets now:
About Architecture Walks
Explore Houston's architecturally and historically significant neighborhoods, buildings and institutions with Preservation Houston's monthly docent-guided walking tours. The tours are offered on the second or third Sunday of the month from January to November; tickets go on sale at 1:30 p.m. (5:30 p.m. June through September). Tours are open to the public. The cost is $15 per person ($10 for Preservation Houston members, students and children 11 and under). Advance ticket purchase is required for all tours.
We also offer quarterly walking tours of Glenwood Cemetery (reservations are required; see our schedule of upcoming tours) as well as private tours for groups of nearly any size.
Digital Architecture Walks
PH’s Digital Architecture Walks include videos, self-guided tours and other content that will help you explore historic neighborhoods, buildings and sites. These digital tours are offered in conjunction with our guided in-person Architecture Walks.
