Daily-ist: Sunday

GHPA Walking Tour: Old Sixth Ward

In perfect timing with last week's City Council designation of Old SIxth Ward as Houston's first and only Protected Historic District, the Greater Houston Preservation Alliance will hold it's monthly walking tour this afternoon in the historic neighborhood.

On the second Sunday of every month, GHPA presents a docent-guided walking tour of an architecturally and/or historically significant area of Houston. $10 per person ($7 for GHPA members). Reservations are not required. Just show up and look for the GHPA sign!

This week's Old Sixth Ward tour, will take attendees through one of Houston's most beloved historic neighborhoods. Settled in the mid-to-late 19th century, its principal developer was W.R. Baker, president of the Houston & Texas Central Railroad and mayor of Houston. Many early residents of Old Sixth Ward were railroad workers, and also skilled craftsmen who decorated their cottages with folk Victorian ornamentation.

The tour includes the former homes of cosmetics queen Mary Kay Ash and famed boogie-woogie pianist Peck Kelley, the inspiration for the hit song "Beat Me, Daddy, Eight to the Bar." The tour also visits St. Joseph's Catholic Church, which was rebuilt after the great storm of 1900. Old Sixth Ward is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated a City of Houston historic landmark.

Tickets will be sold from 5:30 to 6 p.m. at Old Sixth Ward Community Park, Lubbock and Trinity streets. [map] Street parking is available for free on Sundays along Lubbock and side streets, but remember to observe parking restrictions. Please note that this tour will not visit the interiors of any private homes and rest rooms will not be available.

In the event of inclement weather on the day of a tour, watch this page for the up-to-the-minute status of the tour and any changes dictated by the weather. Remember: GHPA walks, rain or shine!
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this evening, 6pm (special time for summer tours)
Old Sith Ward | tour meets at corner of Lubbock & Trinity
$7 for members, $10 for non-members (credit cards accepted)
memberships available for purchase at tour; if purchased, tour is FREE!