Feb 25, 2011

Tucked into a corner of downtown Houston beneath the shadow of towering skyscrapers, the Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park is a quaint throwback to Houston as it used to be. A cluster of historic buildings shaded by giant oaks of Sam Houston Park, the complex is an eye opening experience made all the more powerful given the busy contemporary world buzzing around it.

On a recent afternoon, visitors included a couple of international businessmen stopping by as they headed for a return flight from the airport. They wanted to see an authentic piece of Texas history, and the Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park fit the bill.

Unlike larger museums, this one is easy to get around in a short period of time. Visitors have several options: They can take a tour of the nine structures dating from 1823 to 1905 with a guide at specified hours, allocating about 90 minutes. They can also take a self-guided tour with audio via their cell phone. Or they may simply stroll around the 10-acre site and inside the museum on their own (but the only way to see inside the historic structures is with a guide).

Even those who don’t have time to tour the homes will find it worth a visit. Inside the museum are changing exhibits that demonstrate various facets of life in an earlier Texas. A real gem lies in a reconstructed 19th century general store that uses artifacts from one that had to be torn down. Visitors are ensconced in a piece of the past made all the more real due to actual store fixtures. A 1911 Ford Model T, early bicycle and many early photographs of Houston are other treasures.

HelloHouston Tip: Admission to the museum is free, but guided tours are $10 per person for those 18 and older. Discount group rates are also available.

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