Our team wishes to share a virtual toast 🍷 with you for a day of rest, gratitude, joy, and reflection for all there is to be thankful for such as heritage, tradition, ancestry, and our abundant country.  

To your joy and strong health,

Alison Ayres Bell, Executive Director

On this day, we celebrate the day of generosity and good deeds #GivingTuesday. Get involved and donate your time, money, knowledge or things to Houston's history museum. When you donate to The Heritage Society, you are contributing to education and giving locals and tourists a time-travelling experience that makes them appreciate the Present more than ever.  History is a lesson in reflection, foundation, diversity, and civilization.  Your generosity enables us to offer Houston celebrations to the public, discounts to group tours for students and teachers, and preserve Houston's historic homes and collections that share stories of eras and cultures.   A GREAT TIME TO GIVE, THANKS TO THE CARES ACT Did you know that, in 2021, the CARES Act affords special, higher tax deductibility for charitable donations? Households can deduct up to 100% of their adjusted gross income (formerly 60%) in cash contributions! Even if you do not itemize, the CARES Act allows you to deduct cash contributions of up to $300 as an individual or up to $600 as a married couple filing jointly. This is an additional, “above-the-line” deduction. As you plan your end-of-year giving, please keep Houston's history museum in mind!  Thank you for participating in Giving Tuesday! TEXT TO DONATE THROUGH MOBILECAUSE Text "HERITAGE" to 41-444 or please give below through our website.   THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING OUR 501 (c)(3)!

See fun, eye-catching props in our newly remodeled museum gallery! 

“The Alley is known for its loyal, long-time supporters, and we know some will be surprised by its humble beginnings in a building that was in an actual alleyway, hence the name, and stories behind the exhibit pieces,” The Heritage Society’s development director, Laura Woods said. Woods worked for the Alley Theatre and was instrumental in all phases of the installation and logistics.

For 75 years, the Alley has been enchanting audiences and has a special collection of theatre items that are part of Houston’s history. Expect to see a moon from Cyrano de Bergerac, the bird from Neverland in Peter Pan, an original canvas created during A Weekend with Pablo Picasso, set pieces from the Dracula set featuring the art of Edward Gorey, a replica of the site from Camp David, and many costumes and pieces from numerous other shows.

The exhibit is open Wednesday through Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Private tours and gallery venue rentals are available for the holidays. Call us at 713-655-1912 for group tours.

Our latest earring collection has been a shopping sensation.  Finally, you can give a gift that will not be regifted.  Buy them for yourself, you deserve something fresh and artsy but classic.  

See the whole collection HERE.

When we heard that the City was celebrating the completion of two years of the Bagby Street construction, we knew it was time to offer Candlelight Tours early this year.  The two years of construction made us look closed, and it was in our best interest to light up the night (thanks to board member Kirksey Gregg Productions) and let everyone know that we are a local and tourist destination for the holidays.

Our historic homes at our main campus were filled with Jesse H. Jones Park reenactors, and Kennedy and Cian gave free tours to family and friends.  Our front patio was filled with artists from A O Art Show and a sold out El Tiempo Cantina pop-up restaurant.  There was a line outside the museum gallery to see the Alley Theatre exhibit and enjoy the General Store's wine shop by Haak Winery and Vineyard.  Our Connally Plaza became an educational platform for a young Sam Houston (board member JJ Gonzalez), Houston history experts, and Houston National Convention of Gospel Choirs and Choruses and audience members to learn about Bagby Street's past and sing praise in the vibrant moonlight.  Our side parking lot became a food court filled with kids' festival favorites by Reina Desserts and El Kiosko Foods.  Our Tea Room became volunteer headquarters filled with National Honor Society students, teen students, park performers, and board member Mister McKinney's Leading Ladies from Lamar High School.  A thank you to our sponsors and donors can be seen HERE.

See the Winter Wanderland Opening Night Ceremony at City Hall with THS Resident Poet Katrina Machetta starting the ceremony while our teen volunteers cheered for her.  HERE   See part of the processional to City Hall by our board members, speakers, historical characters, and some of the teen volunteers HERE.

Thank you all for attending and thank you to our committee, sponsors, donors and staff for offering a variety of holiday activities to Houston.  A special thanks to Downtown District and City of Houston MOSE for including us in the fun.