Houston Attractions

Bayou Bend

The magnificent muted pink mansion in the marshy elbow of Buffalo Bayou in Houston's River Oaks area was the home of Miss Ima Hogg, a woman much loved in the community until her death in 1975, at the age of 93. Miss Hogg left her home and the gracious gardens that surround it as a legacy for the city. The house contains a remarkable collection of Americana and is regarded as a cultural treasure, with several thousand objects displayed in 28 period room settings in the mansion. Miss Hogg designed the gardens as outdoor living rooms, fed by bayou waters, and today they continue to provide a peaceful oasis in the heart of the metropolis planted with indigenous species as well as exotics like azaleas, camellias and magnolias.

Address: 1 Westcott Street; Website: www.mfah.org/bayoubend; Telephone: (713) 639 7750; Opening time: Saturday and Sunday 1pm to 5pm. Guided tours are available Tuesday to Friday 10am to 2.45pm and Saturday 10am to 11.15am, but advance reservations are necessary. No guided tours in August. The gardens are open Tuesday to Saturday 10am to 5pm and Sunday 1pm to 5pm; Admission: $10 (adults), Admission to the gardens is $3 (adults) Other concessions available.