<div>Clayton's skill as a court reporter attracted the attention of an executive of the American Cotton Company, resulting in a move to join the company first in St. Louis and then in New York. He created his own firm in 1904 along with his sister's husband, Frank E. Anderson, and Anderson's brother, Monroe D. Anderson. Together, they formed the firm Anderson, Clayton, and Company in Oklahoma City. Clayton's brother, Benjamin, joined the firm in 1905 and in 1916 the firm moved its headquarters to Houston following the opening of the Houston Ship Channel.</div><div> <div>Despite being a member of the Democratic Party, Clayton disagreed with President Franklin D. Roosevelt's New Deal agricultural policies. However, he supported FDR in the 1936 election because of the New Deal's free trade policies. When Clayton returned to government work in 1940, he worked for the Reconstruction Finance Corporation. He then worked to acquire strategic materials for the U.S. in an effort to keep them out of Germany's hands. This work was done as part of the Export-Import bank.</div></div><div> </div>

William L. and Susan Clayton historical marker 

The marker is located at the front of the Clayton Library 

Clayton in 1945 arriving for the Potsdam Conference, at which the terms for the ending of WWII were negotiated 

"Winning the Peace: The Marshall Plan and America's Coming of Age as a Superpower" by Nicolaus Mills

Book

PBS NewsHour Weekend: The Clayton Library

Video

William Lockhart Clayton (1880-1966), a native of Mississippi, left school early to become a court reporter. During World War I, Clayton served worked for Committee on Cotton Distribution of the War Industries Board. He served as Under-Secretary of State for Economic Affairs (1945-47) under George C. Marshall. He is considered to be one of the most important architects of the post World War II Marshall Plan. The Marshall Plan was an initiative in which the U.S. gave $13 billion to aid the rebuilding of Western European countries following World War II. Clayton and his wife, Susan, bequeathed their Houston home to Houston's Public Library system. Notable architect Birdsall P. Bristle worked with Susan Clayton to build the home. Today, it houses one of the best centers for genealogical research in the nation.

Clayton Library and the William and Susan Clayton Historical Marker

Admin

Houston's famous Museum District dates back to a plan in 1977 to better promote and coordinate the activities of many of the city's cultural institutions located in this neighborhood. The Museum District Development Association of Houston was active in the 1980s and led to the current organization, the Houston Museum District Association, which continues to coordinate activities between museums in the Houston's Museum District. This tour was designed for walking, and as a result, it includes most but not quite all of the members of the Museum District. Be sure to also use Clio to discover the Buffalo Soldiers Museum and the Rothko Chapel just a few blocks north of this tour.

The Jung Center supports the belief that expressive arts and movement classes can facilitate physical and psychological healing, and help to build a stronger community. &nbsp;The Center offers a variety of exhibitions and programs that seek to promote&nbsp;personal
growth and well being, with a focus on the following areas: Psychology and Life; Expressive Arts; Body, Mind and Spirit;
Continuing Education; Graduate Education; and scholarships.

Outreach programs from The Jung Center include the
expressive arts after-school programs at The Nehemiah center. The SHAPE
Community Center (Self-Help for African People through Education) strives to
improve the lives of people of African descent ( that is, all people) through
programs and activities that emphasize unity, self-determination, collective
work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. 

Historically, the Center has constantly sought programs to
integrate the appreciation and the value of arts in ways that are not always
considered for such attention. From children whose lives have been
dislocated&nbsp; by family violence, to
children served by neighborhood centers and the Texas Children’s Hospital, even
serving those with substance abuse or motor skills challenges, the Jung Center
strives to provide support for the betterment of the human condition across all
boundaries.

Founded in 1958, The C G Jung Educational Center is a more than a museum or art gallery-this nonprofit educational institution is dedicated to offering diverse educational opportunities in the arts and humanities. The galleries and programs are always open to the public, and there are multiple educational and outreach programs for young people and adults alike. The gallery of the Center showcases rotating exhibits of works by established and emerging artists. Along with the traveling exhibits, the galleries present exhibitions drawn from the Center's permanent collection, including works by Peter Birkhauser. 

The Jung Center

The CAMH was founded in 1948 thanks to the efforts of&nbsp;a group of seven Houston citizens. The Museum offers a great panoply of programs, special events, talks, and
more. Speakers range from exhibiting artists to international art scholars, to
interesting viewpoints from other fields. Specially programed Loft Concerts by the renowned
contemporary classical group Musiqa is created for the Brown Foundation Gallery
Exhibitions. Other music performances, festivals, and concerts, as well as
children’s musicals and dance performances are all part of the annual schedule
of events.&nbsp;The museum also supports ongoing programs about contemporary art not
directly associated with and particular specific exhibit. A new series
conceived around themes of musical influence in everyday life asks artists,
musicians, and all-around creatives to share the music that has influenced
them, past and present. Check out the calendar for details. Educators,
students, and teens can all get involved with special programming that not only
suits their needs, but addresses the issues that stand in the way of young
minds interacting with contemporary art. Teachers, school and community groups
are encouraged to take advantage of the museum’s docents, what they call their “Frequently
Asked Questions (FAQ) teams.&nbsp;

Founded in 1948, the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston is situated in the heart of the Houston Museum District. It is unique in that for the last 40 years it has been a non-collecting institution dedicated to simply offering contemporary international, national, and regional art exhibitions. The Museum's aim is to document how art impacts modern life through. In addition to the art exhibitions the museum also offers lectures, original publications and a variety of educational programs and events. The current facility, which opened its doors in 1972, was designed specifically by Gunnar Birkerts for the museum's use.

Contemporary Arts Museum, Houston

Established in 1900, the MFAH is the largest cultural
institution in the southwest region. The Museum’s main campus is located in the
heart of Houston’s Museum District, and comprises the Audrey Jones Beck
Building, the Caroline Wiess Law Building, the Glassell School of Art, and the
Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden. Resources that can be found
throughout the MFAH include a repertory cinema, two significant research
libraries, public archives, and a conservation and storage facility. The
encyclopedic collections of the MFAH cover world cultures dating from antiquity
to the present and include in-depth holdings of American art, European
paintings, pre-Columbian and African gold, decorative arts and design,
photography, prints and drawings, Modern and Contemporary painting and
sculpture, and Latin American art. The MFAH is also home to the International
Center for the Arts of the Americas (ICAA), a leading research institute for
20th-century Latin American and Latino art.

The MFAH campus unites the brilliant architectural and
design work of Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Isamu Noguchi, and Rafael Moneo, part
of a 75-year legacy of inspired commissions that spans from 1924—and the
construction of the original Museum building designed by William Ward Watkin in
the Neoclassical style—to the year 2000, when the Museum completed the Rafael
Moneo-designed Audrey Jones Beck Building.

The Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden is a unique
and tranquil oasis of art and nature at the corner of Bissonnet and Montrose, showcasing
masterworks of 20th- and 21st-century sculpture by artists including Louise
Bourgeois, Dan Graham, Henri Matisse, Auguste Rodin, and David Smith.

Educator programming from the classroom instructor to school
administration and beyond is promoted and expanded through MFAH. From Teacher’s
packets and educational publications, to Special ‘Evenings for Educators’,
Teacher Workshops, and even Summer Mini Conferences for teachers, the Museum of
Fine Arts – Houston is all about sharing educational ideas through art.

Families can profit, too, from the works of the MFAH.
Proving basics like “Tips for Family Visitors” and “Museum Manners” to Family
Packs and Guides as well as all kinds of specialty programming, every member
will feel special and happy for the great education and loads of fun to be had.

The MFAH campus offers exceptional space for hosting private
events; these spaces include art galleries themselves, the sculpture garden,
two museums and two auditoriums, dependent on your needs and desires. Contact
the Museum for more details and limitations.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, houses more than 65,000 works of art created by cultures across the globe, from ancient times to today. Exploring art through careful observation and personal—as well as communal - meaning-making supports the personal growth of each student and reinforces important cognitive skills that are necessary for 21st- century success. The Museum offers different visit topics and formats to meet the needs of the visitors. Most tours last between 60 and 90 minutes. Programs are targeted for groups from Pre-K through 12th grade, for college and university students, as well as audio and self-guided tours. Be sure to check the Museum’s Website for details.

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

Lawndale Art
Center develops local contemporary artists and the audience for their art. LAC
is one of the only city institutions dedicated to contemporary regional artists
and their work. Located on the edge of the Museum District, the organization
use its prime location to present exhibitions, performances, lectures, film
screenings and special events, and offers an annual residency program to
further the creative exchange of ideas from among Houston’s diverse communities.
A board Programming Committee made up of local artists and professionals to
guide the venue and to select artists and exhibitions for presentation. &nbsp;The Art Center also dedicates itself to the
arts through an internship program and a residency program. &nbsp;

The Artist
Studio program is a nine month residency program wherein the artists have
access to a studio, a stipend and an initial materials allowance. Participating
artists present workshop or presentations, engage the general public and the
local arts community to share their practice or explore related topics.

From the
beginning, Lawndale has been an artist-driven organization. From inception, it
has been the premiere center for arts in Houston, and the region to show work, experiment,
perform and meet other artists. Early projects included art works by Luis
Jimenez, Sue Coe, The Art Guys, Nam June Paik, and Rev. Johnnie Swearingen.
Performance art and music were also a big part of the early years, including
performances by Alan Ginsberg and Spaulding Gray, to Black Flag and the Meat
Puppets.

&nbsp;

As an
artist- centered facility, there are opportunities throughout the year for
local artists to share their talents, and to have a chance to exhibit their art
through the Lawndale Art Center.&nbsp; From an
ongoing artist registry on their website, to exhibition proposals considered
early in the year, to the <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.lawndaleartcenter.org/special/big-show/index.shtml">Big Show</a>,
the open-call juried exhibition. Each year, for that event, Lawndale invites a
guest juror to select from works submitted by artists living within 100 miles
of Houston to show three works of art not seen before in Houston to be shown on-site
for a chance to be included in the Show. See the show site for details.

The Lawndale
Art Center’s on-site archives contain materials dating back to 1979 including
exhibition announcements, posters, photographs, slides, artist’s correspondence
and materials on exhibits and programs presented by the facility.

For more
information on the artist programs, special exhibits, and tour details, call
Lawndale Art Center.

Lawndale Art Center is centered around four museum-quality galleries, three artist studios, and an outdoor sculpture garden that facilitate its role as a vital cultural resource for Houston. Lawndale also provides educational opportunities to area elementary, middle and high school children, and to local college and university students through its teacher orientation program, internship program, and guided tours and activities. Lectures and Workshops are held throughout the year. Topics and themes for these events vary, though some are scheduled annually. Guided tours are available to small groups, including school tours Mon-Fri 10 AM to 5 PM, and generally last 45 minutes. Contact the museum for more details.

Lawndale Art Center

HCCC’s major emphasis is on objects of art made primarily
from craft materials; clay, fiber, glass, metal, wood, or recycled materials. Since
its opening in 2001, HCCC has become an important cultural and educational resource
for Houston in particular, and to a great extent for all of the Southwest – one
of only a handful of venues in the nation dedicated exclusively to craft at the
highest level. As it operates dynamically, the year is full of special events
and travelling exhibits that keep the experience lively and entertaining all
year long. Docent-led tours are available, and generally last an hour. These
must be scheduled in advance, so call at least a week ahead of your planned
visit.

An Artist Residency program is designed to offer time and
space for craft artists to focus on their creative work, and to interact with
the public. Each year a juried selection is held to determine which five
artists will receive a 200-square-foot workspace/studio, a monthly stipend and
a quarterly housing /materials allowance. Artists are selected on the basis of
the quality of their work, ability to communicate with the public, career
direction, and program diversity.

HCCC also has a variety of educational programs available, supporting
their mission to advance education about the process, product, and history of
craft. HANDS_ON Houston is a First-Saturday crafting activity led by local
guilds and artists.&nbsp; HCC also provides
outreach in the form of after-school and summer art classes. In elementary and
middle-school classrooms of 5-15 students, children experience the handmade
excitement of crafting with traditional media of clay, fabric, fiber, glass,
metal, wood, or mixed Media. Further, HCCC is a popular destination for school
outings, community tours, and seniors classes. 

HCCC can also be considered a unique venue for meetings,
events, or parties. Enjoy refreshments surrounded by contemporary crafts,
studios and gallery exhibits. Stroll through the Craft Garden.

Seating for 50 persons in meeting or dining configuration is
available, and a limited number of chairs, tables, and bar-high tables are
available at no extra charge.

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft (HCCC) was founded to advance education about the process, product, and history of craft. HCCC provides exhibition, retail, and studio spaces to support the work of local and national artists and serves as a working resource for artists, educators, and the community at large. The facility reaches thousands of children each year through educational and outreach programming. Exhibitions feature sophisticated creations; some practical, and some that aren’t.  The Asher Gallery is a place to shop gifts that are made by a variety of local and national artists. Behind the building is a Craft Garden, demonstrating the living connection between the materials that constitute crafting supplies and the plants from whence they come. The Artist Hall allows visitors to explore the crafter’s studios, and to share in the love of craft that the artists hold dear. Visitors enjoy the innovative exhibits, talking with the artists-in-residence, and shopping. Tours are available for groups with advance notice. (Call for details)

Houston Center for Contemporary Craft

Founded in 2012, the Houston Museum of African American Culture (HMAAC) is dedicated to preserving, collecting and interpreting African American material and intellectual culture of Houston, Texas, the southwest, and the African Diaspora. Its ultimate aim is to educate and engage people of all ages and races and ethnicities. To this end, it offers a wide array of programming, including film showings, lectures, exhibitions, classes and even worship services.
 


Houston Museum of African American Culture

A permanent exhibit opened in February 2010 features a 1,200-piece collection of Czechoslovakian porcelain, pottery and glass, produced only for a 20-year period between the World Wars. The factories which made these pieces were either destroyed by the Nazis or made into munitions factories, and the pieces were not produced thereafter.

The Czech Cultural Center and museum, founded in 1995, and celebrates the culture of Bohemia, Moravia, Slovakia and Silesia with events and exhibitions. The center features language classes, a museum, archives, genealogy resources, event facilities, library and an ecumenical chapel. Artwork displayed in the museum's exhibits include paintings, photographs, porcelain, various artifacts, and crystal.




Czech Cultural Center and Museum

The center was founded in 1979 by former Ambassador Roy Huffington and former first lady Barbara Bush.&nbsp;They recognized that the people of Houston and&nbsp;Americans in general needed to learn more about Asia and its many cultures.&nbsp;The first Asia Center was actually established in New York City in 1956 and served as a model for the Texas Center. In 1995, the center's Board of Directors voted to build the current&nbsp;building, which was finished in the fall of 2011. Yoshio Taniguchi was well known for leading the effort to renovate and expand the Museum of Modern Art in New York.&nbsp; Docent-led tours of Asia Society Texas Center’s exhibitions allow visitors to experience art on a personal level, learn about art historical periods and styles, and hear stories associated with the artwork.&nbsp;

The Houston Museum District welcomed a new cultural institution in 2012 with the opening of Asia Society Texas Center's 40,000-square-foot headquarters. The Yoshio Taniguchi-designed center features a flexible classroom and conference space, an art gallery, and a 273-seat theater. Three lifted gardens and a cafe add to Asia Society’s amenities. Just as inspiring as the building is the programming, which includes innovative artists and speakers from Asia and beyond. Visitors will experience the diversity of Asian art, film and performance.

Asia Society Texas Center

Holocaust Museum Houston is also widely known as an education center, and the facility includes two classroom areas and a research library. The Boniuk Library and Resource Center contains more than 4,000 titles relating to the Holocaust, World War II, religion and anti-Semitism. The video section contains more than 300 titles on related subjects, and the tapes can be viewed in the Museum’s video room, or they can be checked out. A full-time librarian manages the center, and a full-time registrar is responsible for maintaining the Museum’s archives. Thousands of historic and original photographs, documents, letters, diaries and other artifacts from the 1930s and 1940s are cataloged in the archives. Researchers can examine these documents and artifacts by appointment.

The permanent exhibit at the Museum is Bearing Witness: A Community Remembers, which focuses on the stories of Holocaust survivors living in the Houston metropolitan area. A tour begins with a look at life before the Holocaust. Visitors then see the beginnings of Nazism and Adolf Hitler’s rise to power. The displays progress through the disruption of normal life, to segregation, to imprisonment in concentration camps and, finally, to extermination. The roles of collaborators, by-standers, rescuers, and liberators are portrayed through artifacts, film reels, photographs, and text panels. The main exhibit ends with the moving short films, Voices and Voices II, which alternate daily in the 100-seat theater. These films are compilations of verbal testimony from area survivors.

Holocaust Museum Houston

The parents were led by&nbsp;Sharon Brier and they recognized that the city did not have enough opportunities for children to learn. The museum became a success soon after it opened. Today, it receives around 850,000 visitors a year.&nbsp;In
 2009, the CMH opened its doors to a new addition featuring an 
additional 39,000 square feet, including seven new, permanent exhibits. In total, the museum features 90,000 square feet of space with 14 galleries.&nbsp;Traveling exhibits also enhance the learning experience.&nbsp;

The Children's Museum of Houston (CMH) is located in the city's museum district, near Hermann Park. Its mission is to encourage a lifelong interest in learning through innovative, interactive exhibits and bilingual programs for kids up to age 12. It is housed in a building designed by internationally acclaimed architect Robert Venturi. Founded in 1980 by concerned parents, the museum focuses on workshops in literacy, math, health engineering, civic engagement and cultural and social studies.

Children's Museum of Houston

The museum's history goes back 1962 when the city initiated the "Victory Over Polio" campaign. A committee of concerned citizens recommended the creation of a public, permanent&nbsp;exhibits&nbsp;about the eradication of polio. This came to fruition&nbsp;in 1969 when the&nbsp;Museum of Medical Science&nbsp;opened in the Houston Museum of Natural Science. This arrangement lasted for 21 years, at the end of which the new museum was built. In 2007, 2008, 2011, and 2015 the museum expanded its size and scope. Since its opening in 1996, the museum has seen 2.5 million visitors.&nbsp; The Health Museum’s primary objective is to become the
premiere vessel by which families and individuals can come to a full
comprehension of their bodies, take proactive measures to maintain healthy
living conditions, and to live longer, counteracting the high and rising costs
of health management.&nbsp; The museum offers a number of unique exhibits and programs. Among the highlights of the museum is the exhibit that allows visitors to "walk through the body." This&nbsp;larger-than-life walking tour examines
the body through 30 interactive kiosks and videos that guide the participants
through bodily functions and drive interesting conversations on human anatomy
and health information.In addition to its permanent exhibits, the Amazing Body Pavilion and You: the Exhibit, other attractions include the McGovern 4D Theater, the Sue Trammel Whitfield Gallery, seasonal exhibits and learning centers. The Amazing Body Store also provides unique health-related gifts.<div>Exciting and thought-provoking traveling exhibits such as
the current one, “Beyond the X-Ray”, featuring Pet, MRI, CAT, Ultrasound, ad
3-d imaging technologies, how the interact, and how they aid doctors in
discovering, and diagnosing illnesses and injuries. Programs allow students to perform real dissections and participate in various science courses and even a&nbsp;"Mini Med School." The museum also offers training and&nbsp;badge support programs for Webelos, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. </div><div> For adults and the community, the museum offers health fairs and other community outreach programs, as well as family workshops where children and their&nbsp;parents can enjoy an
interactive presentation and hands-on organ dissection. For those who want more, the museum offers a&nbsp;four day conference for the
academically-gifted High school students with an interest in the medical
sciences. There is also support for the&nbsp;home-school community with&nbsp;classes, dissections, and a biological physics series for kids from preschool
through high school.</div>

The Health Museum is located in Houston's museum district and is across the street from the Children's Museum of Houston. It is an institution of the Texas Medical Center. Its goal is to educate the public about the human body, human health and the medical sciences through interactive science exhibits. Over 180,000 people visit the museum each year including 22,000 schoolchildren on field trips. As such, it is one of most visited attractions in the city. 

The Health Museum

The museum was founded in 1909 and it started out as simple displays in downtown Houston. Eventually it was located at&nbsp;the Houston Zoo and&nbsp;later the Burke Baker Planetarium. Finally in 1964 the current museum was built. The museum has grown significantly since then.&nbsp;Permanent exhibits include:

Albert C Glassell, Jr. Hall – over 40
species of game fish found &nbsp;off the coast
of Cabo Blanco, Peru.

Hall of Ancient Egypt – themes of
writing, religion, natural resources and mummification are explored

Morian Hall of Paleontology – More than
450 fossils and fossil replicas provide a glimpse into the past.

Cullen Hall of Gems and Minerals – See
more than 750 mineral specimens, from around the world.

Wiess Energy Hall – Explore the process
of energy development, and the ways energy is used.

Lester &amp; Sue Smith Gem Vault –
Thousands of hours of design and craftsmanship created this collection.

John P. McGovern Hall of the Americas –
A collection of artifacts from 50 Native American cultures

Frensley/Graham Hall of African Wildlife
– Integrated themes of ecology on the African continent

Welch Hall of Chemistry - Discover chemistry
innovations that have changed the world.

Earth Forum – arrangement of 11
workstations, focusing on the dynamic changes of the Earth.

Do the Weather with Chita Johnson –
meteorology display lets you be a weather reporter!

Strake Hall of Malacology – a hall
dedicated to the study of Mollusks

Farish Hall of Texas Wildlife –
dramatic overview of the seven biotic provinces within Texas.

Vintage Texas Wildlife Dioramas – New Dioramas
in the Education Wing.

One of the most heavily attended museums in the country, the Houston Museum of Natural Science (HMNS) houses the Burke Baker Planetarium, the Wortham GIANT Screen Theatre, and the Cockrell Butterfly center, and a host of fascinating and intriguing permanent exhibits that focus on astronomy, space science, Native American culture, paleontology, energy, chemistry, gems and minerals and much more. Further, the facility accommodates a wide array of traveling exhibits covering even more categories. 

The Museum is a major science learning center, with over a half million school children visiting annually, including every fourth and seventh grade class in the Houston Independent School District. In addition to the main building, the museum operates two satellite location: the George Observatory in Fort Bend County, which features one of the largest telescopes in the country available for public viewing, and the Houston Museum of Natural Science at Sugar Land which features exhibits on dinosaurs, mineralogy, and exotic live frogs.

Houston Museum of Natural Science

Born on March 2, 1793, near Lexington, Virginia, Sam Houston
spent his life creating quite the resume for himself. First of all, when his
family moved to eastern Tennessee in his early life, Houston grew close to the neighboring
Cherokee Indians rather than invest in his own culture and society. While his
mother encouraged him to find a job, Houston instead chose to learn the ways of
the Cherokees, to the point that he even learned their language. Eventually
Houston joined the military, earning considerable respect and praise for his
valor in the War of 1812. Not only did he gain recognition, but also a
relationship with a man named Andrew Jackson who would later be an important
figure in his life.

Right away Houston viewed Jackson as a mentor, taking his
advice to return to Tennessee and pursue a career in politics. However, before
entering into national politics, Houston stayed on the local path by studying
law and then proceeding to be elected as district attorney in Nashville. Eventually
in 1823 Houston was elected to Congress, serving a total of two terms, after
which he was elected governor of Tennessee. Later in 1829, after a failed
marriage and unpleasant rumors regarding his drinking problems, Houston left
Tennessee and traveled to Arkansas, reestablishing his connection with the
Cherokee Indians. He quickly married a Cherokee woman named Tiana Rodgers and
then proceeded to represent the Cherokee nation and other Native Americans in
Washington D.C. in the Bureau of Indian Affairs. 

Only two years after becoming a representative for Native
Americans, Houston moved again to Texas, at which time belonged to Mexico. It
was here in Texas where he would go on to truly shine as a military leader and
earn the multiple monuments dedicated to him. Leading a voluntary army for
Texas in the revolutionary fight for her independence, Houston fought against incredible
odds, being that he was greatly outnumbered by the Mexican forces. Not only was
he outnumbered, but Houston also was fighting directly against the general Antonio
Lopez de Santa Anna, one of the greatest Mexican generals of the time. Despite
these odds, on April 21, 1836, when Santa Anna split his forces Houston saw his
chance and attacked at San Jacinto. This decisive victory secured independence
for Texas.<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[1]</a>

This is the battle that earned Houston the monument guarding
the entrance to Hermann Park. The statue displays Houston atop his horse,
pointing toward the plains next to the San Jacinto river where he ultimately
defeated Santa Anna and the Mexican army along with him.

The statue of Sam Houston was created by a man named Enrico
Filiberto Cerracchio. According to Kendall Curlee, “Cerracchio was born in
Castel Vetro Val Furtore, Italy on March 14, 1880.” Cerracchio spent his time
at the Institute Avellino in Italy studying both academic subjects as well as
sculpture. Once he graduated in 1898, he continued to pursue sculpture by
studying under Rafael Belliazzi. However, this only lasted two years as he left
Italy in 1900 to settle in Houston, Texas, becoming a citizen 5 years later.
Here Cerracchio spent forty years sculpting commemorative monuments and busts-the
Sam Houston monument easily being the most renowned of his works.<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[2]</a>

The statue was officially unveiled on August 16, 1925,
standing on a granite arch constructed by a man named Frank Teich. Teich was
born in Germany on September 22, 1856. He began his artistic lifestyle at the
young age of eight when he started painting. Although it is not known for sure,
Teich most likely worked on the German national monument, The Watch on the Rhine. Throughout his time learning and mastering
his craft, Teich studied under German sculptor Johannes Schilling, the
Franciscan Brothers, and Gustav Wilke. Teich accumulated credit for several
recognized structures including superintending the cutting and inspection of
the granite used in the state capitol building in Austin, the altar in St.
Mary’s Church in San Antonio, the bronze statue of René Robert Cavelier, Sieur
de La Salle in Navasota, and of course, the Sam Houston monument in Houston. Teich
died on January 27, 1939, the husband to Elvina Lang and father of three
daughters. He has since been called the father of the granite industry of
Texas.<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[3]</a>

<div> 





<div>

<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[1]</a> “Sam
Houston Biography.” Biography, accessed March 6, 2018,

<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://www.biography.com/people/sam-houston-9344806">https://www.biography.com/people/sam-houston-9344806</a>

</div>

<div>

<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[2]</a> Curlee,
Kendall. “Cerracchio, Enrico Filiberto.” Handbook of Texas Online, accessed
March 6, 2018, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fce01" title="Link: https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fce01">https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fce01</a>

</div>

<div>

<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow">[3]</a> “Teich,
Frank.” Handbook
of Texas Online, accessed March 7, 2018, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fte05">https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fte05</a>

</div>

</div>

Standing just inside the entrance to Hermann Park in the great city of Houston is a statue dedicated to the city’s namesake. The monument’s webpage describes the statue, “The general points from atop his horse, Saracen, toward the plains next to the San Jacinto River where he ultimately defeated the army of Mexican General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, winning independence for Texas.” This description paints a picture of how Sam Houston must have been viewed during this part of his life – a larger-than-life man towering over others as their leader, ready to go win freedom and independence for Texas.

Sam Houston Monument

&nbsp;&nbsp;George Henry Hermann, was born in 1843 in Houston, Texas. Hermann was a veteran, he served in the Texas Army Company A and in the Twenty- Sixth Texas Cavalry, and also participated in combat for Texas and Louisiana during the Civil War. In 1885, Hermann discovered his talent in real estate and began his own business. While he was in Humble, Texas he discovered oil which led him to becoming a millionaire. Hermann was no other than a humble and hard working man. His inheritance had also gave him financial security, but he still worked hard for and saved every penny he got. After returning back from the Civil War, he began to drive cattle for McDonalds Beef Packery in Fort Worth, Texas. Hermann decided to take a trip for himself in 1885 to visit Europe, but he would make a stop in New York that would soon be the beginning of a major vision.&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp; Hermann made sure to included every detail of the trip in a diary he had brought along. He would begin his journey to New York, then go to Washington DC. While he was making a stop in New York he included that he had to see the iconic Central Park. Hermann noted in his diary, “Central Park is wonderful. I wish my town of Houston had one like it. Perhaps they will some day.” This was the “light bulb” moment of what is now Hermann Park.
&nbsp;&nbsp; George H. Hermann was one of three appointed as a Board of Park Commissioner member by Mayor H. Baldwin Rice in 1910. Hermann and the other commissioners got a landscape architect from Massachusetts named Arthur Comey to make a visit to Houston to give feedback on how he believed the park should be developed. The report urged Houston to have the park be within an inner park system, the parks attractions are in the center of the park making it the center of the cities “fabric”.This would help Houston also expand in size. Comey referred to the park in his report as Pines Park, because it was along the Brays Bayou and across the Rice Institution. Most of the land that was drawn into the diagram was owned by Hermann.&nbsp;
&nbsp;&nbsp; In May 1914, Hermann announced his donation of 285 acres of his own real estate to the City of Houston. The next month, the land was owned by Houston. George H. Hermann deceased in October 1914 and a few more acres were donated to Houston. John W. Maxcey, who had helped in developing Sam Houston Park, began to take over the development of George H. Hermann Park. Marcy had an initial plan to extended the park from what is now Hermann Drive north to Holcombe Boulevard south.&nbsp; The plan never took place because the City of Houston purchased the Hermann real estate and increased the park size to 409.5 acres.&nbsp;
&nbsp; &nbsp; In 1940, J. Robert Neal, was the chairman for the Houston Board of Park Commissioners and led the mission to make Hermann Park what it is today. Before the park had many issues of vandalism, and overall in a bad condition. Neal confronted the City Council about these issues that also existed from 1938 till 1940 and although they could not afford to give them more revenue, the Board of Park Commissioners suggested that the Zoological Garden be closed and to sell the animals to build up revenue. The city also concluded that golf fees would be paid by the Parks Department. William Ward Watkin designed the last project for the park, the Houston Garden Center. The Garden Center would consist of a meeting and exhibition hall. These would be the final touches to George H. Hermann Park.
&nbsp;&nbsp; Today, George H. Hermann Park is one of the most visited parks in Houston. The 445 acre park is neighbored to&nbsp;downtown Houston and is&nbsp;surrounded by the Museum District, Rice University, and Houston's historic downtown neighborhoods. The entrance of the park is at the intersection of Main Street and Montrose Boulevard, and at the center is a statue of honor to General Sam Houston. The park has a very diverse destination list, the Houston Zoo, Miller Outdoor Theater, Museums, Gardens and a Golf Course. The park is visited by an estimated 6 million people a year and ranked number one on Top 10 Parks in Houston. Hermann Park is the heart of Houston and it is safe to say that George H. Hermann would be proud and enlightened of what it is today._______________________________________MUIR, ANDREW FOREST. “HERMANN, GEORGE HENRY.” MUIR, ANDREW FOREST, 14 June 2010, tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fhe28.Feldman, Claudia. “George Hermann: Houston's Eccentric Philanthropist.” Houston Chronicle, Houston Chronicle, 19 May 2016, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.houstonchronicle.com/local/history/article/George-Hermann-Houston-s-eccentric-philanthropist-7723205.php">www.houstonchronicle.com/local/history/article/George-Hermann-Houston-s-eccentric-philanthropist-7723205.php</a>.“Hermann Park | Houston, TX 77004.” Visit Houston, <a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/hermann-park/20202/">www.visithoustontexas.com/listings/hermann-park/20202/</a>.

George H. Hermann was a Houston born real estate investor and industrialist in the early 1900s. In May of 1914 he announced a donation of 285 acres of his own property to the City of Houston. Hermann donated his land for the creation of a municipal park across from the Rice Institution. As a token of appreciation for such an act, the City of Houston entitled the green field  George H. Hermann Park. Today, Hermann Park is 445 acres of land that includes the Houston Zoo, Japanese Garden, Houston’s notorious Museum District, Miller Theater (ballet, opera), and much more.


George H. Hermann Park

The gallery is a relatively small room measuring 40 x 44 ft. One wall is entirely of glass which allows people walking by to view the art installation and watch the artist create it. The university does not accept proposals but invites artists instead. The work is temporary which gives the artist the freedom not to worry about creating something permanent that needs to be archivable or salable.

Rice University Art Gallery is the university art museum dedicated to temporary, large-scale works of art that guests can enter and explore; it is the only museum in the country to offer this kind of experience. The gallery offers videos and other media to help guests who are interested in self-guided tours as well as attendants and art students who are happy to answer questions. Lectures, film showings, concerts, classes and workshops are also offered.


Tour of Houston's Museum District

Clayton Library and the William and Susan Clayton Historical Marker

Introduction

Images

Backstory and Context

Sources

Additional Information