HOUSTON HISTORY

Behold: The Oldest Photo of Houston

An 1856 snapshot of 300 Main Street captures a doomed streetscape, but the block has made several comebacks since.

01/14/2014 By John Lomax

LONE STAR STATE OF MIND

Remember Goliad? Have the Whole Presidio to Yourself Overnight

If you're a Texas history buff, this is something you simply must do before you die.

01/09/2014 By John Lomax

Dream Homes

The Shotgun Shack Is Back

The shotgun cottage is no longer shunned.

12/31/2013 By Michael Hardy

Proto-Houstonias

Our Forgotten Ancestor: The Houston Gargoyle

A journal of Houston’s Jazz Age, the Gargoyle was our town’s first true city magazine.

12/31/2013 By John Lomax

Lay Off!

The Complicated History of the Frito Pie

New Mexicans think it was invented in Santa Fe; Texans, in San Antonio. When Anthony Bourdain calls it “warm crap in a bag,” who should be insulted?

12/31/2013 By Robb Walsh

Tourist In Your Own City

Bayou Views: ArCH Walking Tour of Buffalo Bayou

What would Houston be without Buffalo Bayou? Find out on Saturday.

12/27/2013 By Katharine Shilcutt

TEXAS REPUBLIC HISTORY

Sam Houston's Spectacular Farewell

175 years ago, the Hero of San Jacinto ruined incoming president Mirabeau Lamar's biggest day.

12/10/2013 By John Lomax

Essay

The Year of the Astrodome

Allyn West reflects back on a tumultuous year for our beleaguered, beloved Dome.

12/10/2013 By Allyn West

Secrets of the Galleria

'A Shopping Center It Is Not. It Will Be a New Downtown.'

What was once a pockmarked Post Oak prairie became a temple to consumerism unlike anything seen before.

12/01/2013 By John Lomax

History

Of Virtues and Vicie

A bordello, a little girl, a Christmas story

12/01/2013 By John Lomax

WEST TEXAS TALES

The Legend of Clay Henry

Last seen on the Mexican border in 1992, I've always wondered what became of my favorite politician.

11/19/2013 By Peter Holley

Domesday 2013

Goodbye to a Stadium

Remembering the Eighth Wonder of the World.

11/06/2013 By John Nova Lomax

Houston Blues

Women Be Wise

Remembering Fifth Ward's Sippie Wallace, who was born and died on this date.

11/01/2013 By John Lomax

Best of Houstonia

The Influentials

10/31/2013

JFK

The Last Supper

Fifty years later, JFK’s dinner service captain reflects.

10/31/2013 By Michael Hardy

Swankienda Accessories

Our Favorite Items From Maxine Mesinger's Estate Sale

Legendary Chronicle gossip maven's accoutrements go on the block October 26.

10/23/2013 By John Nova Lomax, Fashion and Style Correspondent

Best Restaurants 2013

The Restaurant That Started It All

Snobby attitude and down-home cooking made Maxim’s a post-war hit.

09/30/2013 By Robb Walsh

Talking Candy from Strangers

The Man Who Killed Halloween

Ronald O'Bryan and the Houston origins of a national nightmare

09/30/2013 By John Lomax

Bad Luck And Trouble

The Dirty Dozen: Houston's 12 Jinxed Restaurant Spots

Looking back on a five-year-old list and seeing if any of these Bermuda triangles have turned around.

09/25/2013 By John Lomax

History

Previewing the 1937–1938 Arts Season

Impresario Edna Saunders brought famous performers from around the world to pre-war Houston.

09/13/2013 By Michael Hardy