Allen's Landing
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Allen's Landing is the birthplace of Houston, Texas. It was on this site that two brothers (and real estate developers) from New York, who had purchased 6,642 acres in the area, John Kirby Allen and Augustus Chapman Allen, first settled on January 26, 1837.[1]
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[edit] History
Allen's Landing is at the confluence of White Oak Bayou and Buffalo Bayou and serves as a natural turning basin. A dock was quickly opened on the site, and the landing was officially named a port in 1841—the original Port of Houston.[2] In 1910, the United States government approved funding for the dredging of a ship channel from the Gulf of Mexico to the present turning basin four miles to the east of Allen's Landing.[3]
In the late 1960s, Allen's Landing was home to the city's premiere psychedelic nightclub, Love Street Light Circus Feel Good Machine ("Love Street"), where bands with names like Bubble Puppy, Neurotic Sheep and American Blues performed mind-expanding music accented with strobe lights and pastel projections.[4] The historic Sunset Coffee Building on Commerce at Main Street, which housed the nightclub on its third floor, is still standing. Love Street's last show was on June 6, 1970.
Once the focal point of downtown Houston, a small historical park was dedicated at the site in 1967.[5] In addition, a simple marker was placed to indicate where, in 1837, townspeople erected a liberty pole to commemorate Sam Houston's victory over Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto the previous year.
[edit] Revitalization
After years of neglect and deterioration, Allen’s Landing has undergone major revitalization and rejuvenation, much like the rest of historic downtown Houston. The first phase of the Allen's Landing revitalization project was completed in 2001.[6] Special features of the park now include: a concrete-paved wharf, designed to replicate the original port; a trail/walkway; a promenade; and a terrace overlooking Buffalo Bayou.
The campus of the University of Houston–Downtown ("UHD") straddles Allen's Landing. UHD's main campus, which is housed in the former Merchants and Manufacturers Building (renovated in the 1980s), is just across the bayou at One Main Street,[7] and UHD's 95,000-square-foot Commerce Street Building, which was completed in May 2005, sits adjacent to the park at Main Street and Commerce.
[edit] References
- ^ Kleiner, D.J., "Allen's Landing," The Handbook of Texas Online (Texas State Historical Association, February 3, 2005).[1]
- ^ Brown, R., "A Texas Port far from the Sea," The New York Times - Travel (December 13, 2006).[2]
- ^ Kleiner, D.J., supra.
- ^ "Houston Live Music Venues," 1960's Texas Music (Website by The Sweetarts).[3]
- ^ Kleiner, D.J., supra.
- ^ "Parks - Allen's Landing," Bayou Maps and Features, Buffalo Bayou Partnership.[4]
- ^ "A 30-year History of Excellence and Opportunity," University of Houston-Downtown (July 6, 2004).[5]
[edit] External links
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