Preservation Houston

08/30/2026

Happy 190th birthday, Houston! 🤘

On August 30, 1836, Houston was founded along the banks of Buffalo Bayou. In the 190 years since, a small trading settlement has grown into one of the largest and most diverse cities in the country.

To celebrate , we’re looking at 13 places that help tell the story of Houston’s evolution — from Allen’s Landing and the arrival of the railroad to the Ship Channel, Texas Medical Center, Johnson Space Center, the Astrodome and the communities along Bellaire Boulevard.

Some represent moments of innovation and enormous growth. Others tell stories of education, civil rights, immigration and community. Together, they remind us that Houston’s history isn’t told through just one building or neighborhood — it’s written all across our city.

Swipe through to explore 190 years of Houston history. ➡️

08/28/2026

A flashback to the Shamrock Hotel ☘️ — a larger-than-life Houston icon that left its mark on the city and, after its demolition in 1987, became an important part of Houston’s preservation story.

From its legendary opening-night party to a swimming pool big enough for water-skiing, swipe through for a few of our favorite Shamrock facts.

What other historic Houston building — still standing or long gone — do you think has left a lasting impact on our city? Tell us in the comments!

08/25/2026

Take a walk through one of Houston's most charming historic neighborhoods. 🌳

Join us on Sunday, September 13, for a guided Woodland Heights Architecture Walk and discover the stories behind one of Houston's first streetcar suburbs.

During this 90-minute walking tour, you'll explore early 20th-century homes, including classic foursquares, cottages, and bungalows, while strolling beneath the beautiful live oak canopy that has defined the neighborhood for more than a century.

Sunday, September 13
6:00–7:30 p.m.

Register today: https://www.preservationhouston.org/calendar/2026/9/13/woodland-heights-architecture-walk

08/20/2026

Good architecture, Houston history and happy hour? We’re in. 🥂

Join Pier & Beam next Thursday, August 27, as we reveal the winner of the 2026 Future Landmark Award, celebrating outstanding new architecture we believe will make a lasting contribution to Houston.

Thursday, August 27
6–8 p.m. | Winner announced around 6:45 p.m.
📍JW Marriott Houston Downtown, 806 Main Street
Appetizers + cash bar
Open to current Pier & Beam members and their guests

Come meet fellow Houstonians who care about architecture and preservation, explore a remarkable historic space and help us celebrate a future Houston landmark.

RSVP: https://tickets.preservationhouston.org/events/preshou/2347730

08/19/2026

Great preservation deserves to be celebrated 🎉

Since 1979, Preservation Houston's Good Brick Awards have recognized the people, projects, and places that preserve, restore, and strengthen Houston's architectural and cultural heritage.

Do you know a restoration project, preservation champion, craftsperson, publication or historic place that deserves to be recognized?

Submit your nomination for the 2027 Good Brick Awards by 3 p.m. on Monday, September 14, 2026.

Learn more and submit your nomination: https://www.preservationhouston.org/awards/nominate

08/18/2026

100 years of Houston history deserves a celebration! 🎉

Congratulations to the Houston Public Library as the iconic Julia Ideson Building celebrates its centennial! Since 1926, this Spanish Renaissance Revival landmark has been part of Houston’s architectural and cultural story, welcoming generations of Houstonians through its doors.

We’re excited to join the celebration this Saturday! Preservation Houston will be on-site with a table, so stop by, say hello and learn more about our work preserving and celebrating the places that tell Houston’s story.

📚 Julia Ideson Building Centennial Celebration
Saturday, August 22 | 12–4 p.m.
Register to attend: https://calendar.houstonlibrary.org/event/16829805

Congratulations on 100 years, Houston Public Library — we’ll see you there! ❤️

08/17/2026

Historic tax credits can be a powerful tool for giving historic buildings new life — but how exactly do they work?

Join the AIA Houston Chapter for HTC 101: The Beginner’s Guide to Historic Tax Credits this Thursday, August 20.

The presentation will break down how historic tax credits can support rehabilitation projects, including how to evaluate whether a project is feasible, navigate regulatory requirements and understand the collaboration between preservation professionals, architects and developers. Attendees will also hear real-world examples from projects across Texas.

Thursday, August 20 | Begins at 5:30 p.m.
6–7 p.m. Presentation
📍Architecture Center Houston, 902 Commerce St.

Whether you work in preservation, architecture or development or simply want to better understand the tools available to preserve historic places, this is a great opportunity to learn more.

Learn more and register:

Each historic tax credit (HTC) rehabilitation project is unique and has inherent challenges. Learn how to anticipate if a rehabilitation is feasible. Our presentation will consider how to analyze, evaluate, […]

08/17/2026

Happy !

Today, we're celebrating the many nonprofit organizations across Texas working every day to protect the places that tell our shared story.

From Houston to Preservation Dallas, Preservation Austin, Galveston Historical Foundation, City of San Antonio Office of Historic Preservation and communities across the state, preservation organizations are advocating for historic places, educating the public, recognizing preservation excellence, and helping ensure our architectural and cultural heritage endures for generations to come.

We're proud to be part of this statewide community of preservation advocates and grateful for everyone who make this work possible.

08/13/2026

We’re bringing back with a Houston landmark that has more than one life. 📬

Built in 1934, POST was originally established as a mail depot next to Houston's Grand Central Station—once the city's gateway for travelers and freight.

When Grand Central Station was purchased by the U.S. Government and demolished in the late 1950s, a new post office was built around the original depot. Designed by Wilson, Morris, Crain & Anderson—the same architectural firm behind the —the building preserved part of the 1930s structure within its brick walls, creating the landmark we know today.

Today, POST has been thoughtfully reimagined through adaptive reuse, welcoming a new generation to experience the building as a destination for food, art, entertainment, and community.

It's a reminder that preservation isn't just about protecting the past, it's about giving historic places a meaningful future.

08/13/2026

Hello to our new friends! 👋

If our Westmoreland Architecture Walk brought you here, welcome to Preservation Houston!

We’re a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving and celebrating the places that tell Houston’s story — from the historic homes and neighborhoods you pass every day to the landmarks, restaurants and gathering places generations of Houstonians have loved.

Here’s what you can look forward to:

👟 Architecture Walks + walking tours through Houston’s historic neighborhoods
📸 Historic Houston throwbacks and stories you may have never heard
🏆 Good Brick Award-winning places + preservation projects, plus a closer look at the homes featured on our annual Good Brick Tour (November 7 & 8, 2026)
🍽️ Houston’s historic Legacy Restaurants through our Savoring History program
🥂 Pier & Beam happy hours + networking events bringing together younger generations of Houstonians who care about our city and its future
…. & ongoing conversations about what Houston should preserve for generations to come.

Want to get involved? Become a Preservation Houston member today: https://www.preservationhouston.org/join