Miles of tunnels under downtown houston, see map weekdays only. We have seven live theaters in downtown alone and there are more across the city. Houston s downtown has so much more to offer than what you see on the streets. Some authors use books to make statements or express their personal views. Houstons downtown has so much more to offer than what you see on. Northside is a historic community located near downtown houston.
Downtown tunnels houston 2020 all you need to know before. If you havent used the tunnels, take a walk underground to find out whether theyre for you. See beautiful art deco treasures and sculptures by worldfamous artists, and learn how houstons 7 miles of pedestrian tunnels came to be the meeting point for this tour is in downtown houston at cafe express, 650 main st. Each spends time pointing out the architectural features, architects, history, usage of buildings, and history of houston. Near the end of a short new york times feature on houstons downtown tunnel system is this historical nugget. Forget finding them at the crosswalksthe real action is 20feet below, in the 7. Where to eat in downtown houston right now houston chronicle.
Built in the 1960s to link buildings and garages and shield downtown workers from houston s brutal heat, today the tunnels run roughly seven miles, connecting 95 city blocks, 24 buildings, and. Although the multiblock tunnel system wasnt initially created to connect downtowns skyscrapers, the evolution of each section provided a welcome navigation option for downtown employees looking to avoid inclement weather. Flood tunneled into houstons cultural heart the new york times. We learn the history of houston s downtown tunnels.
Visit restaurants you might otherwise have missed, go behindthescenes for an experience that few visitors get to enjoy, and sample complimentary food and booze pairings. This handy, dandy map guides you through the downtown tunnels. Downtown tunnels dead zone to be a thing of the past. The district began its revitalization efforts in 1995 with five key goals in mind. There are similar systems in chicago, dallas, oklahoma city, montreal and toronto. Tunnel lady sandra lord, a writer and houston historian, traced the origins of the tunnels to ross sterling, an oilman and governor during the depression, who, inspired by rockefeller center, linked two of his downtown. Just 20 miles east of downtown you can visit the san jacinto battleground, where texas won its independence from mexico. May 04, 2011 video tape a little of houston downtown tunnels hope ya like it n enjoy. Several new restaurants and bars have recently opened downtown, including a denverbased. So when in doubt, here are some of the best restaurants to seek out. This heirloomquality, hardbound book captures the essence of the popular and unprecedented series of stories and images tracing houston citys evolution over the last 115 years since the founding of the houston chronicle. The best in houstons downtown tunnel dining on citysearch.
Its also one of the hippest places in the country to get a drink. Houston was an entrepreneurial place from the moment of its founding. The best places to eat in houston s downtown tunnels, according to yelp. Only wells fargo plaza and mckinney garage on main offers direct access. For a map of the tunnels and the buildings they connect, click here. We meet the authors of a new biography about stevie ray vaughan. Houstons downtown tunnels arent everyones preferred method of getting around downtown, but many are thankful for them during storms and periods of sweltering heat. Compare the aerial photo of houston, the sixth largest city in the nation as of 1970, to the first photo from 1856. The houston chronicle is proud to present a beautiful new coffeetable book, houston through the years. Each of these tours has 6 options in terms of the length of 1. A directorybased map of all tunnel shops and businesses can be found at. There you will find the towering san jacinto monument, the san jacinto museum of history and battleship texas. Discover houstons underground tunnel system with a local guide.
Houston has one of the most diverse culinary scenes in the u. Also, we include the downtown tunnel map which will come in handy when exploring the tunnel systems. This oral history effort is a collaborative partnership between the houston metropolitan research center hmrc, avenue, and the university of houstondowntown. Underground tunnel tour of downtown houston expedia. The downtown district has been a major player in most of the publicprivate projects that have transformed downtown over the last decade. The houston tunnel system is a network of subterranean, climatecontrolled, pedestrian walkways that links 95 full city blocks 20 feet below houstons downtown streets. The best in houston s downtown tunnel dining if youve ever been in the tunnels, it can be a confusing, disorienting experience, even if you have a destination in mind. Next on this historical houston tour, youll cross the street and enter philip johnsons awardwinning pennzoil place. Downtowns underground is a system of tunnels 20 feet below houstons downtown streets and more than 6 miles long. Here is a vehicle free zone and pedestrian paradise.
This system of airconditioned skywalks and subterranean passages has been given many different names mall, concourse, connection, underground, promenade but houstonians. Tunnels, houston, texasyoull meet your local guide and begin your houston tour with a walk down main street towards the chase bank building, which features eight frescoes depicting texas history. Downtown tunnel system things to do in houston, tx 77002. If the cars and metro rails scare you, please go to the tunnels. There is restaurants and shops locate in the building and tunnels. We so recommend this tour for some fun history of downtown houston. Heres your curated guide to enjoying urban life inside the loop. Houston has more than onehalf dozen sports stadiums and arenas. Learn all about the history of our citys extensive tunnel system and its. The houston tunnel system is a network of subterranean, climatecontrolled, pedestrian walkways that links 95 full city blocks 20 feet 6 m below houston s downtown streets. The best aboveground map of the downtown tunnels weve found is the one created by. Access to the tunnel system is normally on weekdays, from 6. Its lonesome in this old town, until you go underground. E very day, thousands of houstonians migrate to work in downtown houston.
Houston and the surrounding areas have amusement parks. The downtown tunnel system is an interconnected series of restaurants, shops, etc. Historic photos of houston touches upon life, government, education, and historic events from the 1800s to the 1970s. Some authors deal in the facts while others prefer fiction. Jun, 2001 the houston flooding was at its worst in the theater district, where the tunnels were transformed into rivers that flowed into the performance halls and wreaked considerable damage, if not to the. Meanwhile the lobby of the kbr tower doubles as an airy art gallery, and the elongated escalator connecting the tunnels to houston center is by itself worth a trip downtown. If you need parking, we recommend parking in the lot across the street from prohibition supperclub, 1008 prairie st, houston tx.
Operated by the houston public library, the booklink interactive kiosk dispenses books, dvds, cds, and, ingeniously, mobile wifi hot spots. Downtown is the largest business district in houston, texas, located near the geographic center of the metropolitan area at the confluence of interstate 10, interstate 45, and interstate 69. This walking tour guides you through houston s downtown tunnels explore the citys history just 20 feet below the ground. Aug 10, 20 houston downtown has a series of tunnels that connect varies buildings together. Lord, a writer and houston historian, traced the origins of the tunnels to ross sterling, an oilman and governor during the depression, who, inspired by rockefeller center, linked two of his.
Looking for downtowns professional set during the week. Jul 14, 2015 rivers of revenue have always shaped the flow of history and so it is with the city of houston the global hub of energy and commerce houston. The best places to eat in houstons downtown tunnels, according to yelp. Although the tunnel is one of houston s bestkept secrets, most of downtown s 150,000person workforce and thousands of visitors use it every day, particularly when its raining or close to 100 degrees above ground. About houston exploring houston san jacinto monument. The best restaurants in houstons downtown tunnels, according. This walking tour guides you through houstons downtown. This fun walk which starts at the heritage society of.
We discuss the history and relevance of mounted police units. Discover the downtown houston tunnel system on this guided walking tour. Architectural historian stephen fox has stated that the idea for the tunnel system came when the bank of the southwest building was linked by tunnel to the 1010 garage and the mellie esperson building in 1961. Due to the operating hours of the downtown houston tunnel system this tour is offered weekdays at 9. Explore the newest and oldest tunnel sections that are open to the public learn about the history of houston through its architecture and art see beautiful art deco treasures and sculptures by worldfamous artists and learn how houstons 7 miles of pedestrian tunnels came to be. This walking tour guides you through houstons downtown tunnels. If it is a rainy day or hot summer, you can enjoy the tunnels. Houston underground tunnel guided history and walking tour. Downtown s underground is a system of tunnels 20 feet below houston s downtown streets and more than 6 miles long. This handy, dandy map guides you through the downtown tunnels everything you wanted to know about the tunnels. We offer 3 different downtown tunnel tours by themes and geographic area in downtown. In 2016, the project developed into stories of the northside and expanded to the northline area. With your local guide to explain these pieces, youll gain a greater understanding of the history of the city and state alike.
Aug 20, 2016 the downtown tunnels should no longer be a dead zone as a new antenna system provides cell reception for houstonians walking the more than 6 miles of airconditioned corridors beneath the. Box 262404 houston, tx 77207 73920867 disclosure leaf group is a usa today content partner providing general travel information. Hispanic archival collections houston public library. May 09, 2017 the best places to eat in houston s downtown tunnels, according to yelp. Houston s market square is one of the states most historic spots. Here are ten novels that explore texas, and more specifically houston, history throughout the decades. But underneath all the buildings and oneway streets lies another bustling metropolis. Combine the best of houston history, culture, and cuisine during a halfday food and sightseeing tour though the citys downtown. I know the downtown tunnels were catastrophic in tropical storm allison 2001. History is an important departure point for many authors. If you stay downtown houston, please walk the tunnels in houston. Having started out years ago as a tunnel between two downtown movie theaters, today it includes restaurants and service retail and connects 95 city blocks. Allen, a shopkeeper and dreamer, and his brother augustus, a bookkeeper and a pragmatist, joined hundreds of americans who gobbled up cheap scrip offered by galveston land company and authorized by mexico.
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