|
| |
| |
|
HOUSTON |
| |
HOUSTON has relentless Texan pride, and above all its refusal to
take itself totally seriously, give it a perverse appeal, while its well-endowed
museums and rich nightlife mean there is always something to do. That
Howard Hughes came from Houston makes absolute sense; eccentric,
domineering and sordid, the millionaire typified all that makes the city
intriguing.
There is good reason why Houston exists at all; it was founded on a
muddy mire in 1837 by two brothers from New York who hoped it would
become the capital of the new Republic of Texas. For all their wild
claims about its potential as a port, and its (imaginary) urban
attractions, the more promising site of Austin was made capital in 1839.
However, by then Houston had somehow established itself as a commercial
center. Oil discovered in 1901, and, like the city itself, unpredictable
and heading for obsolescence became the foundation, along with cotton
and real estate, of vast private fortunes. Among the most famous of the
philanthropists responsible for the development of downtown Houston was
the cruelly named Ima Hogg. Her city improvement projects were largely
cosmetic, however, and the contradictions of urban life are still writ
large here, where abject poverty coexists with ostentatious wealth.
The City
It's demoralizing and unwise to try and see too much of Houston in one
go; best to concentrate on downtown or the Museum District , which can
be walked around at leisure. Houston's human face is most evident in the
Montrose area, on the way to yuppification but still home to eccentrics
and bohemians.
|
Vacation Rentals in Houston |
|
|
|
|
|
from $41.56
USD