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Guided tour

Houston: Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern Guided History Tour

4.9  / 5
23 reviews
Activity provider:Buffalo Bayou Partnership
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Guided tour

Houston: Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern Guided History Tour

Activity provider:Buffalo Bayou Partnership
4.9  / 5
23 reviews

From US$ 10 per person

Explore one of Houston's hidden treasures, the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern. Take this guided tour to see and hear about the architecture of this unique space.

About this activity

Free cancellation
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
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Duration 30 minutes
Check availability to see starting times.
Live tour guide
English
Wheelchair accessible

Experience

Highlights
  • Enjoy an expert-led tour of the iconic underground Buffalo Bayou Cistern
  • Experience a subterranean architectural wonderland in the middle of Houston
  • Admire the imposing architecture which is the size of 1.5 football fields
  • Learn about the fascinating history behind one of the country's largest cisterns
  • Play in the space and try out the Cistern's 17-second long for yourself
Full description

Discover the secrets of one of Houston's most iconic and historical landmarks on a guided, walking tour. Hear about the origins of the Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern and admire the subterranean architecture as you experience a highly unusual space with vast columns and a 17-second echo.

Check in at the Visitor Center of Buffalo Bayou Park, Houston's oasis of green in the middle of the city. Meet your guide at the entrance of the cistern, and discover how the structure was built in 1926 as the city's original drinking water reservoir.

You'll be led into the cavernous cistern that has been repurposed as a subterranean public space. Marvel at an interior the size of 1.5 football fields and which, at one time, held 15 million gallons of drinking water.

Unleash your inner child and play in the space. Trying calling out to hear the 17-second echo as the sound of your voice bounces off the walls and ceilings. Admire the architecture of monolithic concrete columns.

Includes
  • Entrance
  • Guide
  • Tips
Not suitable for
  • Children under 9 years

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Participants

Date

Meeting point

Meet inside the visitor's center to check-in for your tour. Overfill parking is available in City Lot H, located at 1643 Memorial Dr, Houston, TX 77007, just to the east of Fonde Recreation Center. Do not leave valuables in your vehicle.

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Important information

Not allowed

  • Pets (assistance dogs allowed)
  • Tripods

Know before you go

  • This tour takes place underground

From US$ 10 per person

Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
Reserve now & pay later to book your spot and pay nothing today
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Customer reviews

Overall rating

4.9 /5

based on 23 reviews

Review summary

  • Value for money
    4.9/5

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The tour was informative and entertaining. The guide was quite knowlegeable about water supply history in Houston and skilled with her timing and delivery. And the echo-laden singing provided an excellent closure. I definitely recommend others attend.

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August 5, 2023

M
Michael – United StatesVerified booking

Helpful?

So happy to have visited the cistern! It was spooky but hauntingly beautiful. The acoustics in this place is incredible; an echo carries for 17 seconds! The tour guide was the best, she was very knowledgeable and entertaining. She even ended the tour by singing for our group, a song she had written. The cistern is unlike anything else and a definite must see in Houston.

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April 17, 2023

L
L – CanadaVerified booking

Helpful?

Product ID: 429005

  • United States
  • Texas
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  • Buffalo Bayou Cistern, Houston

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