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City on the Bayou: Houston's History through Floods

Presented by John C. Freeman Weather Museum at John C. Freeman Weather Museum

March 13, 2008-February 25, 2011

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The John C. Freeman Weather Museum, the nation’s first and only museum of its kind, will open its new exhibition, City on the Bayou: Houston’s History through Floods, with a grant from the Houston Arts Alliance and with sponsorship from Weatherford, on Tuesday, April 22, 2008, a free day at the museum, just in time to celebrate Earth Day and the museum’s second birthday.

The exhibition features vintage photographs of past historic Houston floods from the Museum’s collection and contemporary weather photographs taken by local photographers to demonstrate how weather, specifically the Houston-area bayous’ propensity for flooding has shaped Houston’s history and development as a community.

The Weather Museum has partnered with the Houston American Red Cross to debut the exhibit at Preparedness on the Square, an event where downtown workers will have an opportunity to preview the exhibition and learn how to prepare for Hurricane Season that begins in June on Thursday, March 13 from 11a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Hermann Square, the Reflection Pond at Houston City Hall located at 900 Smith at Walker.

The City on the Bayou exhibit will then move to the Houston Area Red Cross Building at 2700 Southwest Freeway on March 15 to mark National Flood Awareness Week, March 17-21, 2008. A media reception will be held at the Red Cross building Saturday, March 15 with a press conference at 10 a.m.

The exhibition will remain on display at the Houston Area Red Cross Building until April 15, when it will return to the Weather Museum located at 5104 Caroline on Tuesday, April 22, a free day at the Museum.

City on the Bayou: Houston’s History through Floods will then become a part of the Weather Museum's permanent exhibition, unless requested for touring.

The Weather Museum will also incorporate the information and images displayed during National Flood Awareness Week in development of a Houston Weather History Web site, focused on flood awareness and the historical and cultural impact on Houston.

The John C. Freeman Weather Museum opened its doors in April of 2006 in the Houston Museum District to inspire the next generation of scientists and engineers.

Founded and operated by meteorologists, the Weather Museum is a project of Weather Research Center, a Houston, Texas based non-profit educational and research organization, whose goal is to reach as many people as possible and educate them about weather and weather safety as well as make them weatherwise.

Summary of Exhibit Dates and Locations:

March 13, 2008 – City on the Bayou Exhibit debuts at American Red Cross Preparedness on the Square – 11:00 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. at Hermann Square, the Reflection Pond at Houston City Hall.

March 15 – April 15, 2008 – City on the Bayou Exhibit displayed at the Houston American Red Cross Building.

April 22, 2008 – City on the Bayou Exhibit returns to the Nation’s First Weather Museum. Exhibit Opening – Earth Day and Weather Museum Birthday 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. Free Day at the Weather Museum.

Photo credit: © Harris County Flood Control District. Reproduced with permission.