Explore one of Houston’s hidden treasures, the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. Take this guided tour to see and hear about the architecture of this unique space.

 

EXPERIENCE:

Discover the secrets of one of Houston’s most iconic and historical landmarks on a guided, walking tour. Hear about the origins of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern and admire the subterranean architecture as you experience a highly unusual space with vast columns and a 17-second echo.

Check in at the Visitor Center of Buffalo Bayou Park, Houston’s oasis of green in the middle of the city. Meet your guide at the entrance of the cistern, and discover how the structure was built in 1926 as the city’s original drinking water reservoir.

You’ll be led into the cavernous cistern that has been repurposed as a subterranean public space. Marvel at an interior the size of 1.5 football fields and which, at one time, held 15 million gallons of drinking water.

Unleash your inner child and play in the space. Trying calling out to hear the 17-second echo as the sound of your voice bounces off the walls and ceilings. Admire the architecture of monolithic concrete columns.

 

TOUR HIGHLIGHTS:

Enjoy an expert-led tour of the iconic underground Buffalo Bayou Cistern
Experience a subterranean architectural wonderland in the middle of Houston
Admire the imposing architecture which is the size of 1.5 football fields
Learn about the fascinating history behind one of the country’s largest cisterns
Play in the space and try out the Cistern’s 17-second reverberation for yourself

 

 

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