Houston Audio Walking Tour

Highlights

• 
  Daikin Park

  Daikin Park, the retractable-roof stadium ahead of you, is home to the Houston Astros. Opened in 2000, this is the home ballpark of the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball.

• 
  Toyota Center

  Toyota Center, the indoor arena ahead of you in Houston, Texas, is home to the Houston Rockets. It wears the name of the Japanese automobile manufacturer Toyota, which paid US$100 million for the naming rights.

• 
  Wortham Theater Center

  On May 9, 1987, the Wortham Theater Center ahead of you opened with Tango Argentino. Designed by Eugene Aubry of Morris Architects, this performing arts center was built out of private funds totaling over $66 million.

• 
  Pennzoil Place

  Pennzoil Place, the pair of 36-story towers in front of you, is described as Houston's most award-winning skyscraper. Designed by Philip Johnson and John Burgee from a concept by Eli Attia, the project—completed in 1976—is widely known for its innovative design and is described as Houston’s most award-winning skyscraper.

• 
  The Rice (Houston)

  Jesse H. Jones built the seventeen-story, double-winged Rice Hotel in front of you in 1913, on the very site of the Republic of Texas's old Capitol at 909 Texas Avenue. This is the third structure to rise here; the current hotel was completed in 1913 when Jesse H. Jones built a new seventeen‑story, double‑winged Rice Hotel on the spot.

All 20 stops

• Allen's Landing (Downtown Houston)

  Allen's Landing, on the bank of Buffalo Bayou ahead of you, is officially recognized as the birthplace of Houston.

• Niels and Mellie Esperson Buildings (Downtown)

  Mary Ann Azevedo once called this pair, the Niels and Mellie Esperson Buildings rising in front of you, among the most recognizable buildings in Downtown.

• Magnolia Hotel (Downtown Houston)

  Here at 1100 Texas Avenue, you face the Magnolia Hotel Houston in downtown Houston.

• The Rice (Houston) (Downtown Houston)

  Jesse H. Jones built the seventeen-story, double-winged Rice Hotel in front of you in 1913, on the very site of the Republic of Texas's old…

• Christ Church Cathedral (Houston)

  Christ Church Cathedral, the cathedral church for the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, rises in front of you.

• Houston Cotton Exchange Building (Downtown Houston)

  Eugene Heiner designed the Cotton Exchange Building you face here on Travis Street in 1884.

• Great Southwest Building (Downtown Houston)

  Joseph S. Cullinan, founder of The Texas Company, commissioned the Great Southwest Building in front of you, at 1314 Texas Avenue, as the Petroleum Building…

• Humble Oil Building (Houston)

  You face the Humble Oil Building at 1212 Main Street.

• JPMorgan Chase Building (downtown Houston)

  Formerly the Gulf Building, the 37-story Art Deco JPMorgan Chase Building in front of you was Houston's tallest from 1929 until 1963.

• Pennzoil Place (Downtown Houston)

  Pennzoil Place, the pair of 36-story towers in front of you, is described as Houston's most award-winning skyscraper.

• Heritage Plaza (Skyline District)

  Heritage Plaza, the postmodern skyscraper in front of you, rises 53 floors above the Skyline District of downtown Houston.

• Houston Public Library (Downtown Houston)

  At the corner of Travis and McKinney, you are where Houston's public library story took shape.

• Daikin Park (Houston)

  Daikin Park, the retractable-roof stadium ahead of you, is home to the Houston Astros.

• Tranquillity Park (Downtown Houston)

  Tranquillity Park stretches two blocks between Walker and Rusk Streets in front of you, with the United States federal courts building for the Southern District…

• Houston City Hall (Downtown Houston)

  Built during 1938 and 1939 on Bagby Street, Houston City Hall in front of you houses the city's municipal government.

• Wortham Theater Center (Downtown Houston)

  On May 9, 1987, the Wortham Theater Center ahead of you opened with Tango Argentino.

• Hobby Center for the Performing Arts (Houston Theater District)

  Glass walls 60 feet high front the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts ahead of you, which opened to the public in 2002 on the…

• Bayou Music Center (Downtown Houston)

  Since November 14, 1997, when it opened as the Aerial Theater, the Bayou Music Center in front of you has worn several names inside the…

• Bayou Place (Houston Theater District)

  Bayou Place, the 130,000-square-foot entertainment complex in front of you, houses multiple theaters, bars, and restaurants in the Theater District of Downtown Houston.

• Toyota Center (Houston)

  Toyota Center, the indoor arena ahead of you in Houston, Texas, is home to the Houston Rockets.

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