Advance ticket purchase is required for this walking tour. Scroll down to reserve tickets.
A walk along Main Street in downtown Houston is a walk through the city's business development and its changing architectural tastes. As Houston's business district grew in the 20th century, the street was built up with soaring skyscrapers, busy hotels, ornate movie theaters and lavish department stores. Suburbanization brought an end to downtown's heyday as a shopping and entertainment destination, but many of the buildings from this era of growth and glamour still stand, giving us a fascinating look at the Bayou City's past.
Highlights of our 90-minute docent-guided walking tour include the 1929 Gulf Building, the city's Art Deco masterpiece; the former First City National Bank Building, a modernist landmark since its completion in 1961; and Alfred C. Finn's 1951 building for Sakowitz department store, which has evolved from an elegant retail establishment to a marble-clad parking garage. As we discuss the history and architecture of these and other Main Street structures, we'll also learn about the street's changing role in an ever-expanding city.
This is an exterior architecture tour only. The tour will not go inside any buildings. There are no public restrooms along the tour route.
About the tour
Advance tickets are required and available on a first-come, first-served basis. Unfortunately, we can’t accommodate walk-ups on the day of the tour.
After you register, we’ll send parking and check-in details to your e-mail.
Please note that tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable unless Preservation Houston cancels or reschedules the tour. In the event of severe weather, we’ll be in touch as soon as possible to discuss options.
Do you have an Architecture Walks pass?
If you have joined Preservation Houston and received a pass for a free Architecture Walk, you may redeem the pass for admission to this tour. E-mail tours@preservationhouston.org and we'll be happy to help.
Passes are redeemable subject to ticket availability.