Market Square, one of the public squares laid out in the Allen brothers’ original plan of Houston, was home to the city market and City Hall from 1841 to 1939. During that time, the square became the center of Houston’s early commercial district. Although the area declined in the mid-20th century, preservation projects have brought new uses to its historic buildings and new life to Market Square itself.
Our 90-minute, docent-guided walking tour explores this fascinating neighborhood, highlighting buildings such as the 1861 Kennedy Bakery (now La Carafe), one of the city’s oldest surviving commercial buildings. The tour route also includes the 300 block of Main Street, a row of largely intact late 19th century commercial buildings, and the imposing façades of Houston’s early 20th century financial district. As we walk, we’ll discuss the methods and value of preservation versus demolition and the importance of projects like Market Square Park, which was reimagined in 2010 as an inviting urban green space with links to its storied past.
This is an exterior architecture tour only. The tour will not go inside any buildings. There are no public restrooms along the tour route.