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Exploring Houston-The Museum District-Part 1
I am a native Houstonian that very recently realized I missed a lot! This city is vibrant and electric with plenty of culture to offer. Sure, I’ve been to The Houston Zoo and The Museum of Fine Arts, but The Museum District has so much more. Over the past month or so, I’ve embarked on a journey to explore many of the gems that I’ve made the mistake of passing over so many times. This isn’t a comprehensive list of everything in The Museum District, but certainly a great place to start for Newstonians.
Miller Outdoor Theatre
Hermann Park is home to The Houston Zoo, an 18-hole public golf course, the Japanese Garden, McGovern Lake (with paddle boats), a Mini-Train, the Museum of Natural Science and the Miller Outdoor Theatre. While every venue is worth visiting, my favorite, as of late, is the Miller Outdoor Theatre. I’ve recently seen two shows, “Dancin’ in the Street… Motown & More Revue” and “Sizzling Summer Dance.” Both were fantastic performances by the cast and troupes, and they were both free! At Miller Theatre, you simply climb the hill with your blanket and picnic basket of goodies (adult or otherwise) and plop down on the grass for a lovely evening of great company and entertainment. Of course, if you really need a chair, you can head to the box office the day of the event for a ticket (that is also free!) There are plenty of great events coming up starting with “ExxonMobil Summer Symphony Nights” starting this weekend.
Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC)
Houston is a city rich in ethnic and cultural diversity and the Houston Museum of African American Culture is quite possibly one of my favorite museums. As far as museums go, it’s smaller and there aren’t any permanent exhibits. However, it’s always growing, changing and features some of the more engaging and interesting exhibitions I’ve seen. Most recently, on display was “The Kingdom of Gold: Photographs of Ghana.” The collection of photographs focused on the enstoolment (throning) of a new king of the Ashanti people. Adjacent to it, in the only room left, “Women of a New Tribe” made me reflect on the role women have played throughout history. Coming up, and something I’m very excited about is “Wells Fargo Presents – The Kinsey Collections: Shared Treasures of Bernard and Shirley Kinsey, Where Art and History Intersect” on display from August 2nd to October 26th. Admission to HMAAC is always free.
Rothko Chapel
The Rothko Chapel is best described as a place of spiritual sanctuary. The Chapel was founded by Houston philanthropists John and Dominique de Menil and is a visited by over 60,000 visitors from around the world annually. Not only is it listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but it is also often times on the top ten lists of places to visit. The chapel is a tranquil meditative space inspired by works of Mark Rothko. Out front, in a rectangle reflecting pool is Barnett Newman’s sculpture Broken Obelisk, which was dedicated to Dr. Martin Luther King. Inside, are 14 mural canvases on the walls of the octagonal space. Because Rothko Chapel is a place where all faiths and ideas are accepted, it has been a site for peaceful demonstrations, vigils and wedding ceremonies. The Rothko Chapel is more than meets the eye. Simple in appearance and presentation, it is magnificent it it’s ability to fill you with calmness and make you reflect.
What would you like to see on this list? Let me know in comments.
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