Houston in its early years was a rough-and-tumble located on, as one tourist said, "the borders of civilization." But it was also the capital city of the new Republic of Texas and the center of activity in the young country, and the story of its founding and early boom years is fascinating. Though the city's earliest buildings have all been lost, this 90-minute docent-guided tour recreates 1830s Houston through stories of its structures and residents and first-hand accounts of life here. We'll visit the sites of the capitol of the Republic, the president's house and city market, and some lesser-known spots like the site of Houston's first theater and the Round Tent, one of its most popular (and rowdiest) saloons.

Please note that this is an exterior architecture tour. The tour will not visit the interiors of any buildings. Public restrooms are not available on the tour route.

TICKETS

Tickets will go on sale at 1:30 p.m. Sunday, November 10, 2019, on the northwest corner of Main Street and Texas Avenue. Admission is $10 for the general public ($7 for Preservation Houston members and students with valid ID). Those who walk, ride a bike or use public transit to get to the tour will receive a $2 discount. Children 11 years old and under are admitted free. Tickets may be charged to Visa, MasterCard, American Express or Discover. The last tour group will leave just after 2 p.m. Advance reservations are not required for this tour.