History on Tap is a free program for the community held at North Shepherd Brewing at 6:30 p.m. 4816 N. Shepherd Drive HTX 77018

Tuesday, January 14, 2025, at 6:30 PM

Speaker: Dr. Brian Riedel “Whose Montrose?: a Neighborhood History”

Elite suburb, “gayborhood,” crime-ridden urban core, cultural mecca, gentrified contradiction – Montrose has been all these things and more. In this talk, Brian Riedel of Rice University will discuss the history of this iconic Houston neighborhood and its place in the city’s imagination of itself.

Bio:

A native of North Carolina, Brian Riedel has called Houston home since 1997.  In his role as Associate Director for the Center for the Study of Women, Gender, and Sexuality at Rice University, he connects community conversations and academic resources through teaching, research, and public events.  He is currently completing a book manuscript, 'Sex, Race, and the City: New Histories of Houston,' a history of the city that centers its sexual and racial past.  Outside these pursuits, he enjoys spending time with his husband and their two dogs.  You can learn more about him at https://profiles.rice.edu/faculty/brian-riedel.

Bring the family to 1100 Bagby Street to buy wonderfully, unique gifts from local small businesses. Entry is free both Friday and Saturday evening.

Bring the family to 1100 Bagby Street to buy wonderfully, unique gifts from local small businesses. Entry is free both Friday and Saturday evening.

Family in town? We are running a Thanksgiving special of $5 off each ticket for our popular historic house tour with re-enactments by the talented Kijana Wiseman to encourage family outings. Tickets are here: Elevated Tour Experience - Black History — The Heritage Society

There's nothing more fun than buying yourself some everyday glamourous jewelry for the City of Houston's 188th Birthday. Look splendid and shop for a great cause...Houston's history museum. The party in store is happy hour time 4- 6 p.m. at 714 Yale Street. Come model jewelry with us and enjoy sweets, sips, and balloons. RSVP to info@heritagesociety.org.

Can't make the party? SHOP ONLINE THESE TWO DAYS: Your unique giveback code is GIVEBACK-HBMZF and will be live from Wednesday, 8/28 - Thursday, 8/29. 1) Code MUST be entered at the time of checkout to calculate 20% giveback to The Heritage Society. 2) The giveback code cannot be combined with another code.

It's time for our annual celebration with the League of Women Voters Houston. This year, we will be celebrating on Saturday, August 24 at 3:00 PM during the Happy Birthday Houston event with City leaders and Youth leaders. RSVP here.

Did you know we have Women's History Tours year-round?  Since we are closed on Monday the 26th, we are offering BUY ONE GET ONE FREE TICKETS on Saturday, August 24.  Our tour times are 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1:00 p.m., and 2:30 p.m. Book your tickets here.

Tom Moser was born and raised in Houston.  He began his career 50 plus year career in the aerospace industry at NASA, where he participated in every U.S.  human space flight program from Mercury to the Space Station.  He served as the Chief Engineer at the Johnson Space Center and as senior manager in the Apollo, Space Shuttle and Space Station Programs in Houston and Washington, D.C. When he retired to Kerrville in 1997, he immediately failed retirement when he became the Executive Director of the Texas Aerospace Commission for Governor George W. Bush.  He established commercial Spaceports in Texas.  Space-X is operating at the south Texas Spaceport. He failed retirement again, when he was elected Kerr County Commissioner for three terms. He has been interested in the Truth regarding “Global Warming” and CO2 for over 30 years.  As such he founded the “Right Climate Stuff” 12 years ago.  An organization of retired NASA colleagues and other scientists with the objective of disseminating the Truth regarding Climate Change. Tom has multiple engineering degrees and studies from the University of Texas, University of Pennsylvania and Rice University.  He is a distinguished graduate of the UT College of Engineering and a Fellow of National and International Aerospace organizations. He and his wife, Ginnie, have four children and ten grandchildren.

He will have 5 NASA Alumni guests with him who will astound you with facts about how we became Space City.

Lunch and Learns have returned! Please join us for Black History and Texas History with author Dr. Ronald Goodwin on Thursday, June 20, at Noon. Dr. Ronald Goodwin from Prairie View A&M University will discuss the collection of slave narratives in Texas during the preservation efforts of the New Deal in the 1930s.

About the Author and Speaker: Dr. Goodwin has lectured at The Heritage Society and is a distinguished Co-Chair of the Levi Jordan Plantation Advisory Committee for the Texas Historical Commission, 2020-present. He is the General Editor, PVAMU Book Series, Texas A&M University Press, 2019-present. He has taught coursed in US History Survey, African American History, Urban History, American Chattel Slavery, Military History, Contemporary US History, and Early National US History.

Bring your own lunch or order lunch from Potbelly’s when you purchase your ticket online (please order lunch by June 18).

TICKETS

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 Step into History: Our three historic houses stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and struggles of generations past. From the opulent grandeur of the plantation era to the resilient spirit of emancipation, each house tells a unique story of resilience, courage, and hope.

📜 Guided Tours: Led by a tour guide, our Black History Tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived on a plantation and segregated neighborhood after June 19, 1865. Learn about the daily lives of enslaved individuals, the struggles for freedom, and the years that followed Juneteenth in our nation's history.

🍰 Tea Cake Tastings: Indulge in a sweet treat as you savor the flavors of tradition with our tea cake tastings. Made from cherished family recipes passed down through generations, these delectable treats serve as a reminder of resilience and community in the face of adversity.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 Step into History: Our three historic houses stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and struggles of generations past. From the opulent grandeur of the plantation era to the resilient spirit of emancipation, each house tells a unique story of resilience, courage, and hope.

📜 Guided Tours: Led by a tour guide, our Black History Tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived on a plantation and segregated neighborhood after June 19, 1865. Learn about the daily lives of enslaved individuals, the struggles for freedom, and the years that followed Juneteenth in our nation's history.

🍰 Tea Cake Tastings: Indulge in a sweet treat as you savor the flavors of tradition with our tea cake tastings. Made from cherished family recipes passed down through generations, these delectable treats serve as a reminder of resilience and community in the face of adversity.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 Step into History: Our three historic houses stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and struggles of generations past. From the opulent grandeur of the plantation era to the resilient spirit of emancipation, each house tells a unique story of resilience, courage, and hope.

📜 Guided Tours: Led by a tour guide, our Black History Tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived on a plantation and segregated neighborhood after June 19, 1865. Learn about the daily lives of enslaved individuals, the struggles for freedom, and the years that followed Juneteenth in our nation's history.

🍰 Tea Cake Tastings: Indulge in a sweet treat as you savor the flavors of tradition with our tea cake tastings. Made from cherished family recipes passed down through generations, these delectable treats serve as a reminder of resilience and community in the face of adversity.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Join Us for Juneteenth Tea Cakes & Tours Every Saturday in June! 🎉☕

Embark on a journey through history at our three historic houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory of their Enslaved People’s Project. Traditional red punch and tea cakes will be served.  Bring the whole family!

🏠 Step into History: Our three historic houses stand as silent witnesses to the triumphs and struggles of generations past. From the opulent grandeur of the plantation era to the resilient spirit of emancipation, each house tells a unique story of resilience, courage, and hope.

📜 Guided Tours: Led by a tour guide, our Black History Tour offers a glimpse into the lives of those who once lived on a plantation and segregated neighborhood after June 19, 1865. Learn about the daily lives of enslaved individuals, the struggles for freedom, and the years that followed Juneteenth in our nation's history.

🍰 Tea Cake Tastings: Indulge in a sweet treat as you savor the flavors of tradition with our tea cake tastings. Made from cherished family recipes passed down through generations, these delectable treats serve as a reminder of resilience and community in the face of adversity.

Don't miss your chance to be part of this unforgettable experience on

• Saturday, June 1

• Saturday, June 8

• Saturday, June 15

• Wednesday, June 19

Book your Juneteenth Tea Cake Tour today and discover Black History stories that shaped our City's history at 10:00 a.m., 11:30 a.m., 1 p.m., or 2:30 p.m. below. For Group Tours, please contact tours@heritagesociety.org.

Join us on Wednesday, 5/1, on Facebook or Instagram at 7 p.m. with Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston as he hosts Facebook Live with author Richard Cunningham speaking about West University History in this free, online program.

West University history is Harris County history, and Cunningham’s book West University Place will take you on a journey of how it transformed then flourished. The real estate development called West University Place was part of a trend in the early 20th century of building affordable neighborhoods away from city centers; it was never meant to be a city on its own. West University Place evolved from treeless farmland into one of the most livable small towns in Texas—but the journey was not easy. More than once, the enterprise could have failed. If not for the actions of visionary leaders and dedicated residents, things may have turned out quite differently.

Cunningham, who is a freelance science writer, is author of the novel, Three Good Leads, a sequel to Maude Brown’s Baby, his debut novel. Three Good Leads is set in Houston and Galveston during the 1918 Influenza pandemic.  These fictional books were inspired by authentic vintage photographs that had a life of their own. 

Today, Cunningham serves on the City of West University Place Parks and Recreation Board. In 2021, he originated research into the location of the 1894 Harris County Poor Farm, which led to the approval of a historical marker on the Edloe Street pathway. He and his wife live in a 1948 cottage in West U that they remodeled in 2007.

Join Executive Director Alison Bell and Mister McKinney for a night of Houston history!

Join us on Wednesday, 4/3 on Facebook or Instagram at 7 p.m. with Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston as he hosts Facebook Live with guest Robert Kimberly speaking about Legacy of Sig Byrd in this free, online program.

Robert Kimberly is the author of The Digital Sig Byrd Archive, “Houston Press Columnist Sigman Byrd, a Mid-Century Chronicler of Houston People and Places Long Gone”. The Digital Sig Byrd Archive is an online repository of Houston Press columns by Sigman Byrd, the mid-century chronicler of a Houston long gone. Byrd’s writings about underdogs and “the drifts of life”, from 1947 – mid 1950s, leave behind a unique portrait of Houston’s demimonde: its junkies, hookers, hustlers, street-corner preachers, pawnshop owners, honky-tonk angels, boogie-woogie boys, dealers, and more. However, upstanding Houstonians made appearances as well. The site looks to offer an accessible introduction to his writings, reward deep exploration of the archives and provide names, places, maps and calendars to offer a broad overview of his writings during his time at the Houston Press.

Kimberly works at the Blaffer Art Museum at the University of Houston and previously worked for the Museum of Fine Arts - Houston and the Houston Center for Photography.

Join Executive Director Alison Bell and Mister McKinney for a night of Houston history!

3rd Annual Houston Día de los Muertos Parade & Festival at Sam Houston Park in Downtown  Saturday, November 4, 2-10 PM | FREE – The Día de los Muertos festival returns to Downtown, offering an evening of live music, a parade procession, delicious concessions, arts and crafts, and more. Free to participate in the parade, but traditional attire—full of pageantry and beauty—is recommended. Parade starts at 7 PM.

Did you know? Day of the Dead, a Latin American tradition that originated in Mexico, is a time that families take to remember their loved ones that have passed.  In honoring them, families create ofrendas, or altars, that are decorated by the person’s favorite foods, drinks, photos and memorabilia to encourage the spirits to visit.  Across the city, communities and Houston’s signature institutions will host Día de los Muertos events that honor the tradition and pay respects to the city’s dearly departed.

June 3, 10, 17 (Sponsored in part by Constellation Energy)

10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:30 PM

This was our most popular tour last year. When you book your tour on Saturdays in June, enjoy red punch and authentic tea cakes.

Come learn why the international organization UNESCO designated our three historic houses as Sites of Memory for their “Slave Trade Project” and why House Beautiful Magazine named our Black History Tours as a must-see. Reader’s Digest Magazine also named the Reverend Jack Yates House as the most famous house in Texas two years in a row.

Simply book your historic house tour ticket on these Saturdays… June 3, June 10, and June 17 - and enjoy Teacakes and Red Punch (sponsored by our corporate partners at Constellation Energy) with your tour.

June 3, 10, 17 (Sponsored in part by Constellation Energy)

10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:30 PM

This was our most popular tour last year. When you book your tour on Saturdays in June, enjoy red punch and authentic tea cakes.

Come learn why the international organization UNESCO designated our three historic houses as Sites of Memory for their “Slave Trade Project” and why House Beautiful Magazine named our Black History Tours as a must-see. Reader’s Digest Magazine also named the Reverend Jack Yates House as the most famous house in Texas two years in a row.

Simply book your historic house tour ticket on these Saturdays… June 3, June 10, and June 17 - and enjoy Teacakes and Red Punch (sponsored by our corporate partners at Constellation Energy) with your tour.

June 3, 10, 17 (Sponsored in part by Constellation Energy)

10:00 AM, 11:30 AM, 1:00 PM, and 2:30 PM

This was our most popular tour last year. When you book your tour on Saturdays in June, enjoy red punch and authentic tea cakes.

Come learn why the international organization UNESCO designated our three historic houses as Sites of Memory for their “Slave Trade Project” and why House Beautiful Magazine named our Black History Tours as a must-see. Reader’s Digest Magazine also named the Reverend Jack Yates House as the most famous house in Texas two years in a row.

Simply book your historic house tour ticket on these Saturdays… June 3, June 10, and June 17 - and enjoy Teacakes and Red Punch (sponsored by our corporate partners at Constellation Energy) with your tour.

LIVE! from The Heritage Society with Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney’s Historic Houston

Join us on Wednesday, 5/3, on Facebook or Instagram, at 7 PM and learn about the past architectural stories of buildings and homes that once bustled. Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston hosts Facebook Live with Alfred Cervantes in this #free online program.

As the Executive Director of the Houston Film Commission and a native Houstonian, Alfred Cervantes has worked in the Texas film industry since 1992. As freelance crew, some of the movies he has worked on are Reality Bites, The Chase, Jason's Lyric, Powder, and Apollo 13. His role with the Houston Film Commission is to promote the greater City of Houston & Harris County area to film producers, production executives and independent filmmakers, to scout locations and facilitate any production's local filming experience.

Check out all of Houston’s film festivals here: https://www.houstonfilmcommission.com/news-and-events/texas-film-festivals/

The evening starts with information about THS from executive director Alison Ayres Bell.

WATCH ON INSTAGRAM

WATCH ON FACEBOOK

Celebrate Women’s History Month and Texas History Month with a wine reception, presentation, and book signing about Texas Governor Ann Richards

co-hosted by:
Margaret Justus, Richards’ former press secretary

6 PM, Tuesday, March 28

The Heritage Society, 1100 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002

Free to THS Members, $10 for Non Members

Margaret Justus is an Austin communications consultant and a former television news journalist who grew up in Kansas City and has lived in Texas for more than 34 years—20 years in Austin and 14 years in Houston.  Justus served as Ann Richards’ deputy press secretary and is on the Advisory Council of The Heritage Society!

Justus founded the Ann Richards Legacy Project in 2021, a nonprofit that created and displayed 300 Ann Richards street banners in major Texas cities across the state. The banners honored the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of Ann Richards. 

Justus then collaborated with philanthropists Lynne Dobson and Greg Wooldridge to publish The One Ann Only: Wit and Wisdom from Texas Governor Ann Richards.

One of the most unforgettable politicians in American history, Dorothy Ann Willis Richards (1933–2006) was the first woman to be elected, in her own right, governor of Texas; she served from 1991 to 1995. Richards transformed the state government to resemble the diverse population of Texas, appointing a record number of women, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ community members to Texas boards and state agencies.

Governor Richards was known as much for her humor as for her politics. Her witty one-liners, shrewdly delivered with a thick Waco accent, could bring down the house. Add in her striking appearance—big white hair and turquoise eyes—and her presence left an indelible impression.

With a thoughtful foreword by award-winning novelist Sarah Bird, The One Ann Only presents Ann’s famous witticisms alongside striking images throughout her life and political career by Texas photographers. This little book can serve as a Texas-sized inspiration to everyone, especially current and future public servants, teachers, parents, and people in recovery.

Join us at 7 PM, Wednesday, August 3 and THS board member Mister McKinney of Historic Houston as he interviews authors of Oldest Houston —Lydia Schrandt & Biju Sukumaran. Their book creatively walks through some of the oldest attractions found in Houston. The author shows the city's diverse culture by taking readers on a journey through the oldest buildings, businesses, and neighborhoods.

Chance to win prizes from The Heritage Society and learn about the exciting exhibits coming to The Heritage Society from Executive Director Alison Bell. This program is free, thanks to our donors.

Although, we will be closed for a private event on Saturday, April 9, we are hosting an outdoor exhibit of local artists at our Bagby Street Patio.  A O Art Show is directed by Hugo Felix, and he will be featuring the following artists: Amy VanHoy, Christian Martinez, John Paul Segovia, "GiGi", Mariam Mihjazi, and "Shy." Jakob.  Art Education: One of the artists also helped design and decorate one of the art cars that will be in the parade, so come find out what is involved to make an art car!

Their creations and masterpieces will add to the Art Car festivities surrounding THS on Saturday - a children's creative zone at Sam Houston Park, a VIPit! Experience at City Hall, and VIP grandstand parade watching section on Allen Parkway and Sam Houston Park.