History

20 Years Later

When the Cowbell Rang: How Houston Helped Katrina Survivors Find Family

Houston’s shelters turned chaos into connection, creating a blueprint for disaster relief the federal government couldn’t deliver.

08/29/2025 By Erica Cheng and Brittany Britto Garley

Houstorian

How Streetcars and Trolley Lines Shaped Houston

From mule cars to Metro, public transit has always been a part of the city.

08/22/2025 By James Glassman

Sealed with Honor

Only Six Houstonians Have Been Featured on a US Stamp. Here’s Who Should Be Next.

From Barbara Jordan to Oveta Culp Hobby, these local legends have earned a spot in American postage history, but there are plenty more who deserve the honor.

07/25/2025 By James Glassman

Houstorian

Beyond River Oaks: How Houstonians Watched Movies Before Megaplexes

An historic movie theater can be just as much a work of art as the films shown inside, and the ones still standing are a reminder of our city’s architectural heritage.

06/27/2025 By James Glassman

Reverberations

The Sound of Rain Continues to Echo for Harvey Survivors

The storm left hundreds of Houstonians with PTSD, and public mental health is worsening as more extreme weather events persist as the norm.

06/09/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Houstorian

The Spirit of the Montrose Is Alive(ish) on Lower Westheimer

A look at how the neighborhood’s vibrant artery has evolved over the decades.

05/23/2025 By James Glassman

Out and Proud

Listening to Hope and History with KPFT’s Queer Voices

The program has chronicled the past and present of Houston’s LGBTQ+ community for five decades, and it’s gearing up to be a critical element of the future.

05/13/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Wider Wallets

The Cultured Houstonian’s Guide to Free Museums and Museum Days

These local treasures make it possible to access world-class art, history, science, and more on a budget.

04/29/2025 By Emma Balter and Meredith Nudo

Houstorian

Houston Astros Colors Tell the Story of the City Over the Decades

Astros critics hate to see us coming in our bright orange caps.

04/25/2025 By James Glassman

Trailblazer

Pioneering Chinese American Artist Gets Long-Overdue Retrospective

Hung Hsien studied under the last court painter in China and made abstract expressionism her own. Asia Society Texas is here to tell you what makes her groundbreaking.

04/23/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Reasons to Love Houston

Preserving Local LGBTQ+ History Is a Labor of Love

Houston is (still) at the core of Texas's queer culture and advocacy.

04/04/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Houstorian

Our Highly Memeable Freeways Redefined Who’s a “Houstonian”

It’s true what they say: Houston is an hour from Houston.

03/28/2025 By James Glassman

Houstorian

Over 50 Years, Houstonians Have Shined on Saturday Night Live

From Patrick Swayze’s infamous Chippendales skit to President George H. W. Bush’s cameo.

02/14/2025 By James Glassman

The Must List

Bennett Road Blends Freedmen’s Town History with the Joy of Play

The partnership between Contemporary Arts Museum Houston and the Houston Freedmen's Town Conservancy brings in brothers Michael and Martellus Bennett for a commentary on Black labor.

02/04/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Houstorian

A Brief History of Houston’s Attempts at Flood Control

How two catastrophic floods in 1929 and 1935 shaped the Bayou City.

01/24/2025 By James Glassman

The Must List

Pueblo People Lead the Narrative at MFAH’s Grounded in Clay

The exhibit covers a millennia of Indigenous pottery, showcasing over 100 clay works handpicked by curators from all 19 Pueblo tribes.

01/02/2025 By Meredith Nudo

Bayougraphy

Legendary Swimmer Johnnie Means Is an Athletics and Civil Rights Hero

He desegregated competitive swimming three years before the Civil Rights Act and coached Houstonians through athletics and life for over 60 years.

12/09/2024 By Meredith Nudo

Ever Wonder Why…

What’s the Deal with Houston’s Blue Tile Street Signs, Anyway?

The iconic tiles had to come from somewhere. We asked Preservation Houston to tell us a little bit about how the legend was born.

12/02/2024 By Meredith Nudo

Local Lore

Forgotten Houston Dishes

Ura gonna love Ima Hogg 'n eggs.

11/27/2024 Illustrations by James Glassman

The Must List

Heritage Society’s New Exhibit Centers Karankawa History and Culture

Karankawa: An Enduring Culture of Texas educates visitors on Houston’s original inhabitants and addresses concerns regarding artifact ownership in the museum industry.

11/26/2024 By Meredith Nudo

Houstonia Magazine

History

When the Cowbell Rang: How Houston Helped Katrina Survivors Find Family

How Streetcars and Trolley Lines Shaped Houston

Only Six Houstonians Have Been Featured on a US Stamp. Here’s Who Should Be Next.

Beyond River Oaks: How Houstonians Watched Movies Before Megaplexes

The Sound of Rain Continues to Echo for Harvey Survivors

The Spirit of the Montrose Is Alive(ish) on Lower Westheimer

Listening to Hope and History with KPFT’s Queer Voices

The Cultured Houstonian’s Guide to Free Museums and Museum Days

Houston Astros Colors Tell the Story of the City Over the Decades

Pioneering Chinese American Artist Gets Long-Overdue Retrospective

Popular Content

Tainted Love: The Astronaut Love Triangle That Led to Adult Diapers and Battery

When the Cowbell Rang: How Houston Helped Katrina Survivors Find Family

How Streetcars and Trolley Lines Shaped Houston

The Cultured Houstonian’s Guide to Free Museums and Museum Days

The Tall (but True) Story of Houston’s Skyscrapers

The Candy Man Who Wasn't So Sweet After All

Preserving Local LGBTQ+ History Is a Labor of Love

Our Highly Memeable Freeways Redefined Who’s a “Houstonian”

Over 50 Years, Houstonians Have Shined on Saturday Night Live

Bennett Road Blends Freedmen’s Town History with the Joy of Play

A Brief History of Houston’s Attempts at Flood Control

Pueblo People Lead the Narrative at MFAH’s Grounded in Clay

Legendary Swimmer Johnnie Means Is an Athletics and Civil Rights Hero

What’s the Deal with Houston’s Blue Tile Street Signs, Anyway?

Forgotten Houston Dishes

Heritage Society’s New Exhibit Centers Karankawa History and Culture

Latest Issue

Hit the Road