Houston Historic Sites & Landmarks
Introducing Houston's Histories with Historic Sites, Landmarks and Points of Interest.
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1
Allen's Landing
Houston was founded by Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen on August 26, 1836. The Allen brothers purchased 6,600 acres along the Buffalo Bayou for $5,000, for the purpose of establishing a new city. They purchase the land along the banks of Buffalo Bayou (now known as Allen's Landing, a memorial park) and White Oak Bayous, and incorporated as a city on June 5, 1837.
2
Market Square Park
Main Street/Market Square Historic District, No. 2 (showing)
Established 1854. Historic District: 1997. National Register of Historic Places: 1983.
The significant of the Market Square Park is because it was the original City Hall -- located at the Main Street/Market Square Historic District. Through the first century of its existence, Houston revolved around Market Square. The square was donated to the city in 1854 by Augustus Allen and was used as an open air produce market, and the downtown business district grew up around it.
Early city landmarks in the neighborhood included the briefly-used Texas Capitol and White House, now long-gone, and several City Halls rose and fell at Market Square. Two were brought down by fire and the final one was demolished in the ‘60’s, long after the City had moved its offices to the 1938 Art Deco City Hall at Hermann Square.
Marker, "Foundation Outline of Old City Hall & Marker House Buildings".
3
Heritage Districts - Freemen's Town Heritage District
Bethel Baptist Church, 801 Andrews St, Houston, TX 77019 is in Fourth Ward -- the Freemen's Town Heritage District.
The heritage district designation is intended to foster civic and cultural pride by protecting character-defining elements within neighborhoods, highlighting the significant achievements and contributions of the community and promoting neighborhood stability.
Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, 500 Clay St, Houston, TX 77002
4
Historic Districts
Within the City of Houston, there are 23 Historic Districts. Many of them are within the Houston historic wards, but not all of them.
One of the 23 Houston's Historic Districts: The Main Street/Market Square Historic District, (showing).
When Houston was incorporated in 1837, its founders decided to split the city into wards. Originally, there were four wards. However, today, there are six distinct Houston wards, each with a different culture and vibe.
I. Introducing Houston's Histories with Express Map's Map Tour
Houston Historic Districts
Heritage Districts Map
After facing decades of redevelopment, Houston’s historic Fourth Ward, also known as Freedmen’s Town, was named the city’s first heritage district in 2021.
The new Heritage District designation differs from a Historic District, of which there are 23 in Houston, in that it only applies to elements that fall in the public way. The latter protects private property in an area from demolition or renovation that would strip it of its historic qualities.
Heritage District
The Heritage District allows nonprofits to preserve or install culturally significant elements of the neighborhood on public property. It aims to commemorate the history of Freedmen’s Town, the Fourth Ward neighborhood that drew formerly enslaved people from all over Texas and Louisiana after Emancipation in 1865.
I.I Heritage Districts Map of the City of Houston
Historic Districts Map
Houston has 23 Historic Districts with many of these designated districts were within the original Houston historic wards. Before there were neighborhoods, Houston was divided into wards. Originally, there were four wards. The city’s founders established these wards for political purposes, akin to today’s voting districts. The Fifth Ward came about 30 years later to accommodate the city’s growing population, and the Sixth Ward followed 10 years after that.
Historic Districts
Since its establishment in 1836, the City of Houston has encountered various transformations and undergone many changes, all of which can be recognized today through our remaining historic structures. In October 2010, Houston took a tremendous step to further protect the historic character of our city by approving changes to the Houston Office of Preservation (HOP) Ordinance. Through this ordinance, the City of Houston offers methods to maintain Houston’s architectural history. Landmark and Protected Landmark designations allow for the recognition and protection of individual historic structures; while Historic District designations preserve neighborhoods by classifying a specific area of a community as significant.
III. Historic Districts Map of the City of Houston
Houston Old Wards
By 1903, the city limits expanded from approximately nine square miles to almost sixteen square miles. The ward boundaries were extended out to meet the new city limit. In 1905, a city-wide vote was held to dissolve the ward-based government.
While the ward government system ended, the ward designations continued to exist as a neighborhood designation. When the city limits expanded once again, the ward boundaries again expanded out to meet the new limit. However, other neighborhoods like Magnolia Park and Houston Heights formed around the wards as the city expanded, limiting the ward extents.
The map below shows the well-defined boundaries of the wards of the 1920s. Over the next few decades, the ward boundaries shrank as lands were claimed for neighborhoods, or other purposes. While 'wards' no longer exist in their original intent in Houston, they still serve as neighborhood descriptions, or as historic districts.
IV. Houston Wards Map comparison with the 1920's Annexation Map (right).
© 1920 Wards Map, Planning & Development Department, City of Houston.
Houston Wards vs Super Neighborhoods
Today, Houston designates these areas as 'Super Neighborhoods'. Only four of the six original wards exist in this capacity; the others were renamed or absorbed into other Super Neighborhoods. Even the existing 'wards' are much smaller than their 1920 maxima. Today, the City of Houston consists of 88 Super Neighborhoods within the 671 square miles.
Historic Sites & Landmarks
Every city has histories, Houston is no exception. The city of Houston was founded by land investors on August 30, 1836, at the confluence of Buffalo Bayou and White Oak Bayou (a point now known as Allen's Landing) and incorporated as a city on June 5, 1837.
Houston was the capital of the Texas Republic in the late 1830s. Below are historical sites & landmarks from the "Original Town Plat" based upon the founding of the Allens, and the famous Main Street/Market Square Historical District of what is known today. And, with landmarks that surrounds the Rice Hotel (Rice Urban Lofts), 917 Texas Ave. which was the historic site of the first Capitol of the Republic of Texas. Presentation of the "Central Business District" of 1836 and today, in the next Slideshow below.
V. Landmarks in Houston - the Downtown District
Note: Explore Historic Sites and Landmarks above (click, next slide - right arrow).
Houston Historic Sites & Landmarks StoryMap by HITS-GIS SERVICES, City of Houston.
Last Update: January 15, 2025
Contents
I. Introduction
- Allen's Landing
- Market Square Park (Main Street/Market Square Historic District, No. 2)
- Heritage Districts
- Historic Districts
II. Heritage District Map (City of Houston)
III. Historic Districts Map (City of Houston)
IV. Houston Old Wards comparison with 1920's Annexation Map (Swipe), and Super Neighborhoods
V. Historic Sites & Landmarks
- Introducing Landmarks within the Downtown District
- Locate Landmarks In Downtown, with Landmarks, Designation Dates, Architectural Significents, Contents and Images. (Main Street/Market Square Historic District, and Downtown Area).
© 2025. All rights reserved. City of Houston.
Resources
To learn more about Historic Preservation in Houston, visit https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/HistoricPres
Landmarks & Protected Landmarks - https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/HistoricPres/landmarks.html
Annexation History 1836-2021 - https://arcg.is/OW5Wz
Houston Historical Walk - https://arcg.is/0HSCDq
Houston Super Neighborhood - https://arcg.is/1fDuG5
