U.S.S. Houston (CA-30) Survivors’ Association and Next Generations®

Day of Remembrance 2025

83rd Anniversary of the Loss of U.S.S. Houston (CA-30) and H.M.A.S. Perth (D-29)

The ceremony on March 8, at 1:30 PM at The Heritage Society is set to honor those who lost their lives during the Battle of Sunda Strait on March 1, 1942, including the Sailors from the Australian, British and Dutch nations who attempted to stop Japanese naval forces from landing in Java. This event is open to the public.

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📸 Board member Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston has award winning documentary filmmaker 🎥 🎞️ Jim Bailey on the legacy of iconic Houston photographer Bob Bailey on “LIVE from The Heritage Society with Mister McKinney” on Wednesday, March 5, at 7:00 p.m. This is a free program on Facebook or Instagram Live.

Bob Bailey was a photographer who captured Houston life from 1929 until his death in 1971. His younger brother Marvin worked for him and carried on the business until the mid-1990s and died in 1998. Between them they left behind 500,000 glass negatives, the bulk being 8"x10" and 4" X 5" and a few larger formats (e.g. 16" x 20"). In 1998, an enterprising retired lawyer named James Lee saved the negatives from being tossed in the trash, and found a home for them at the [Dolph] Briscoe Center for American History, associated with the University of Texas at Austin. In the 14 years the negatives have rested there, about 5,000 of the 25,000 interesting (to Houstonians) photos have been digitized.

Jim Bailey of Sunset Productions of Houston, Texas, is an award-winning television and film producer who specializes in educational video programs and television documentaries focusing on Texas history, art and lifestyles.  As a 30-year veteran, he has written and produced more than one hundred television and video programs.

He has served as president of the board of Texas Foundation for the Arts, and is a member of Harris County Historical Commission, Rice Historical Society and Preservation Houston.  He is a third-generation Texan and graduate of Baylor University. He was co-producer on the recent PBS documentaries “The Golden Age of Texas Courthouses” and “Uncommon Law:  The Life and Times of Leon Jaworski.”  He recently produced and co-wrote a 60-minute documentary, “In Search of Houston’s History,” for the Friends of the Texas Room and the Houston Public Library.  Other recent documentaries include “The Art of Architecture—Houston,” which won a Telly Award, and “The 1910 Harris County Courthouse,” which won the Good Brick Award from Preservation Houston.Bailey was co-producer of the HoustonPBS program “Houston Arts Television.” Two other recent PBS documentaries were “Juneteenth:  A Celebration of Freedom,” produced in cooperation with the School of Architecture at Prairie View A&M University; and “Brushstrokes of South Texas,” an interesting profile of the life of Mexican-born artist Daniel Lechon and his murals that were installed in the Kennedy Ranch Museum of South Texas History. “Asia Society Texas Center,” the story of architect Yoshio Taniguchi’s new landmark building in Houston’s Museum District, was produced by Texas Foundation for the Arts and Houston Arts Alliance and aired on HoustonPBS in 2013.  Jim Bailey worked on the documentary as co-producer and writer.

On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. Just a few months earlier, on September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the executive order that declared enslaved people in the rebelling Confederate States legally free. However, the decree would not take effect until the clock struck midnight at the start of the new year. (Source: The Smithsonian Institute)

Join us at The Heritage Society on 1100 Bagby Street, HTX 77002

Saturday, December 28, 10 AM – 11:30 AM

Tuesday, December 31, 10 AM – 11:30 AM

Performances by Actress Kijana Wiseman and Poet Dr. Don Williams

Experience a historic houses tour with re-enactments of Watch Night known as “Freedom's Eve,” marks when African Americans across the country watched and waited for the news of freedom. Today, Watch Night is an annual New Year's Eve tradition in places of worship that includes the memory of slavery and freedom, reflections on faith, and celebration of community and strength.

On the night of December 31, 1862, enslaved and free African Americans gathered, many in secret, to ring in the new year and await news that the Emancipation Proclamation had taken effect. Just a few months earlier, on September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the executive order that declared enslaved people in the rebelling Confederate States legally free. However, the decree would not take effect until the clock struck midnight at the start of the new year. (Source: The Smithsonian Institute)

Join us at The Heritage Society on 1100 Bagby Street, HTX 77002

Saturday, December 28, 10 AM – 11:30 AM

Tuesday, December 31, 10 AM – 11:30 AM

Performances by Actress Kijana Wiseman and Poet Dr. Don Williams

Experience a historic houses tour with re-enactments of Watch Night known as “Freedom's Eve,” marks when African Americans across the country watched and waited for the news of freedom. Today, Watch Night is an annual New Year's Eve tradition in places of worship that includes the memory of slavery and freedom, reflections on faith, and celebration of community and strength.

“From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience” is a “Houston Signature Experience” by Visit Houston

During your tour of three historic houses that tell Houston’s stories from plantation to emancipation, the talented actor brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life in dramatic reenactments. The historical script was written by Martha Whiting-Goddard, Reverend Jack Yates’ great granddaughter, who lived in the Yates House that was relocated to Sam Houston Park.

Explore the following three houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House. “Sites of Memory,” or “Sites of Conscience” are historic places that activate the power of memory to engage the public in a deeper understanding of the past, inspiring action to shape a more just future. These sites break the silence surrounding slavery, and place the tragedy into our universal memory. It is only through dialogue that we can have peace and reconciliation. We have a duty to remember the crimes committed against humanity by our ancestors, especially as we see the return of prejudice and discrimination today.

Starring Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed.! You will be enchanted by Kijana’s dynamic and versatile performances in the realms of theatrical and communicative arts. An award-winning lyric coloratura soprano with an impressive 3.5-octave range, she has garnered accolades such as the City of Houston Talent Competition and the national APCA Best College Performing Artist of the Year. Her interactive one-woman show, The Griot, was honored as the Best College Diversity Program. Kijana’s theatrical journey began in her childhood at Houston’s Theatre Inc. and Alley Theatre, where she played numerous lead roles in both musicals and plays. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree specializing in African Theatre, achieved through joint studies at Texas Southern University and the University of Liberia, West Africa.

The talented reenactor, Khi Stephens, brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life through song, a Library of Congress slave narrative, and a portrayal written by a descendant of the Reverend Jack Yates. Stephens studied theater in Los Angeles and was coached by Martha Whiting-Goddard on her roles.

From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience begins on Saturday, February 10 in celebration of Black History Month. These 90-minute tours are offered on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month; from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to make a reservation at least two (2) weeks in advance. To make a reservation or to request more information, call 713-655-1912 or email tours@heritagesociety.org.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your tour time for parking and walking through our campus to the museum gallery for check-in. Free parking is available at 212 Dallas Street.

“From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience” is a “Houston Signature Experience” by Visit Houston

During your tour of three historic houses that tell Houston’s stories from plantation to emancipation, the talented actor brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life in dramatic reenactments. The historical script was written by Martha Whiting-Goddard, Reverend Jack Yates’ great granddaughter, who lived in the Yates House that was relocated to Sam Houston Park.

Explore the following three houses that are designated by UNESCO as Sites of Memory for their “Routes of Enslaved Peoples’ Project” - 1847 Kellum-Noble House; 1866 Fourth Ward Cottage; and 1870 Yates House. “Sites of Memory,” or “Sites of Conscience” are historic places that activate the power of memory to engage the public in a deeper understanding of the past, inspiring action to shape a more just future. These sites break the silence surrounding slavery, and place the tragedy into our universal memory. It is only through dialogue that we can have peace and reconciliation. We have a duty to remember the crimes committed against humanity by our ancestors, especially as we see the return of prejudice and discrimination today.

Starring Kijana Wiseman, M.Ed.! You will be enchanted by Kijana’s dynamic and versatile performances in the realms of theatrical and communicative arts. An award-winning lyric coloratura soprano with an impressive 3.5-octave range, she has garnered accolades such as the City of Houston Talent Competition and the national APCA Best College Performing Artist of the Year. Her interactive one-woman show, The Griot, was honored as the Best College Diversity Program. Kijana’s theatrical journey began in her childhood at Houston’s Theatre Inc. and Alley Theatre, where she played numerous lead roles in both musicals and plays. She holds a BFA in Theatre from the University of Houston and a Master’s degree specializing in African Theatre, achieved through joint studies at Texas Southern University and the University of Liberia, West Africa.

The talented reenactor, Khi Stephens, brings the hardships of slavery and the victory of freedom to life through song, a Library of Congress slave narrative, and a portrayal written by a descendant of the Reverend Jack Yates. Stephens studied theater in Los Angeles and was coached by Martha Whiting-Goddard on her roles.

From Plantation to Emancipation – The Freedom Experience begins on Saturday, February 10 in celebration of Black History Month. These 90-minute tours are offered on the second and fourth Saturdays of the month; from 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

Groups of 10 or more are encouraged to make a reservation at least two (2) weeks in advance. To make a reservation or to request more information, call 713-655-1912 or email tours@heritagesociety.org.

Please arrive 10-15 minutes prior to your tour time for parking and walking through our campus to the museum gallery for check-in. Free parking is available at 212 Dallas Street.

Join us on Wednesday, 10/4 on Facebook or Instagram at 7 p.m. and learn about Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston hosts Facebook Live with author JD Doyle in this free, online program.

JD Doyle, a Houston-based LGBTQ historian was awarded the Texas Digital Library’s (TDL) 2021 Trailblazer Award. The award honors the work of an individual or group that has used limited resources in innovative ways to create and maintain digital collections.   TDL’s mission of ensuring equitable access to and preservation of digital content of value [for research and teaching], cultural heritage, and institutional memory.

In his new book, Doyle shares a deeply personal story of his cross-country odyssey at age 34 through the burgeoning gay American subculture developing in cities large and small. Entitled 1981—My Gay American Road Trip: A Slice of Pre-AIDS Culture, the book is based on a journal that Doyle kept of his adventures as he traveled from the East Coast to the West Coast and back again.

Join us on Wednesday, 8/2 on Facebook or Instagram at 7 p.m. and learn about 50 Black Houston historical and cultural sites in our beloved city. Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston hosts Facebook Live with Dr. Lindsay Gary in this free, online program.

Dr. Gary is a dancer, an author, and an educator who stands by the power behind historical and cultural origins through interactive teaching.  Her exhibit, The New Red Book, with The Printing Museum and THS puts 50 historical sites and cultural organizations on the map as it embraces several neighborhoods in the heart of Houston.

Please join us on Friday, February 17, to hear of the two legendary Houston restaurants that were located at 3755 Richmond Avenue at Timmons Lane. The event starts at 6:30 p.m. and features vignettes about each restaurant. The evening focuses on the Heritage of the location… once the site of Maxim’s and now the site of Tony’s. A gourmet four-course dinner completes the evening.

Tony and Donna Vallone opened Tony’s in a modest location on Sage Road in 1965. In 1972, the Vallones moved to a new location on Post Oak at the urging of his longtime landlord and friend, Gerald D. Hines. It was there that Tony's was firmly ensconced as the go-to restaurant for the rich and famous, thanks in no small part to Houston Chronicle gossip columnist Maxine Mesinger, who'd taken quite a fancy to the place. One of the most memorable nights was a 1982 party in honor of Princess Margaret in Tony's wine cellar, with Governor John Connally teaching the princess to Texas two-step to the accompaniment of live violins. In 2004, the opportunity arose to create a restaurant that truly matched Vallone's ambitions. Vallone had the existing Tony's location built so that “I could have a big kitchen, high ceilings, private dining rooms and do what I wanted to do,” he said. Tony and Donna Vallone changed the dining landscape of Houston forever. (Source: Houston Chronicle)

In 1949, amid the city’s booming economy and population growth, the Peacock Grill opened— giving Houstonians a new kind of culinary experience. Max Manuel and Camille Bermann opened their fine dining establishment in downtown Houston filling the niche for continental cuisine. The name was soon changed to Maxim’s, and a Houston legend was born. Bermann based the new name and the design concept on the world-renowned restaurant Maxim’s de Paris. For over fifty years, Maxim’s provided sophisticated food and dining to its loyal patrons, introducing Houstonians to fine French cuisine and wine. In 1981, the restaurant moved to Greenway Plaza. After Camille’s death, the restaurant closed in 2001. Maxim’s legacy lives on in the many fine dining establishments, especially Tony’s, that have opened their doors in Houston following in the footsteps of Camille Bermann. Camille Bermann’s son, Mark Bermann will give insights of this storied restaurant at the event.

Ticket Information

• Single Ticket: $250

• Table for 8: $2,500

• Table for 10: $5,000

Watch this Wednesday on Facebook or Instagram at 7 PM and learn about the past stories of Pearland. Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney's Historic Houston hosts Facebook Live with Donald Hayes in this #free online program. Hayes is a Board Member at Pearland Foundation for the Performing and Visual Arts and is an officer of the Pearland Historical Society. He also is the founder of Untold Tales Marketing. Join us for education, trivia, and prizes.