Points of Interest

HOUSTON LANDMARKS AND ICONIC STRUCTURES
(Downtown / Central Business District)  

1910 Harris County Courthouse and Chase Tower in back 

City Hall with flag seen from Buffalo Bayou

Friedman Clock Tower with Seth Thomas Clockwork
with cupola of old courthouse behind it

Houston is Inspired mural near Market Square

HOUSTON PARKS AND PUBLIC SPACES, 
AND INSTITUTIONS

Buffalo Bayou Promenade
Butte Park
Discovery Green
     McNair Jogging Trail
     Kinder Lake
     Children's Playground at Discovery Green 
     Anheuser Busch Stage
     Discovery Green Dog Run
     Water splash fountain at Discovery Green
     Ice skating at Discovery Green in Winter
Hermann Square at City Hall
     Reflecting Pond in front of City Hall at Herman Square
Hermann Park near Medical Center
Heritage Society and Naval Warfare Memorial
Plaza at Harris County Jury Assembly Building - Landscaping on courthouse square
Johnny Goyen Park
JP Morgan Chase - Cameron Park and Mural
Mandell Park
Market Square Park
     Market Square Dog Run
     Lauren's Garden and Fountain
     Niko Niko's Patio
     Houston Inspired Mural at Treebeards
     Historical Markers and Info
     Clock tower with historic City Hall Clock | Other old clocks and towers
MKT Trail along White Oak Bayou (Heights Hike and Bike Trail)
Quebedeaux Park at Family Law Center
Root Square at Toyota Center with Basketball Court
Sam Houston Park and Historical Structures
Sesquincentennial Park - Historic Houston Photographs on display along the path down to the water
Tranquility Park in Theater District at Federal Courthouse

MONUMENTS, MEMORIAL SITES, 
AND HISTORICAL MARKERS  

President George Herbert Walker Bush Memorial overlooking Buffalo Bayou bend at the Post Office and Wortham Center
Baker Commons
9-11 Memorial in Market Square
USS Houston Naval Memorial at Sam Houston Park - Heritage Society grounds
Confederate Soldiers Memorial with "Spirit of the Confederacy Statute" next to
pond at Sam Houston Park

There are numerous historical markers throughout Downtown, marking either preserved historical buildings or sites of historical significance. The Downtown District/City has its own historical interpretive markers (on lamp posts) in addition to Texas Historical Commission Markers and Medallions. Some of these explain the background of street names.

EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS

Downtown has one state university (University of Houston Downtown, which is a component of the University of Houston System), and several private institutions, including private schools and kindergartens, and a private law school. The buildings and facilities of Houston Community College are located in Midtown. The Houston Public Library (Central Library at McKinney and Metropolitan Research Center in the historic Julia Ideson Building) also deserve mention as institutions with an educational mission.

University of Houston Downtown (UH-D aka UHD)
     One Main Building aka Merchants and Manufacturers Building or M & M Building at 1 Main St.
     UHD Academic Building next to historic M&M Building overlooking the Bayou - with patio
     Commerce Street Building at the base of Main Street Bridge
     Shea Street Building
     UHD Sustainable Community Garden on banks of Buffalo Bayou | Johnny Goyen Park
     Willow Street Pump Station
South Texas College of Law (private law school)
Houston Community College
Incarnate Word Academy Catholic Girls' School

MODERN HOUSTON, TEXAS

SKYSCRAPER CITY

Chevron Building (formerly Enron) 

Wells Fargo Plaza and Heritage Plaza
skyscrapers towering over Interstate 45 (Gulf Freeway) 

City Hall and nearby Office Towers

Top of 1600 Smith Tower (Chevron) with crane

Reflection of historic Gulf Building in glass wall of
modern office tower across the street