Houston, US
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.
Cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund
English
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.
Entrance
Guide
Tips
This tour takes place underground
Loved it!
We love the history tour. It is much better than the experiential tour. The tour guide who sings in the cistern is the best!
Historic interest in forgotten hidden areas of any town/city. Brilliant display of reflection in the water.
I was very disappointed because in purchased tickets for 4 pm but I didn’t read the whole email and it said to get there 30 min before:( why then make the tickets for 4 pm???
We loved the tour and our guide made the experience so special.
It was really good! Rosemary, our guide, was excellent and really knowledgeable
Very informative and the guide was very knowledgeable. We learned a lot and enjoyed seeing the cistern. A great little adventure.
Great tour. Need to better ID/accommodate hearing impaired. Difficult to hear if you’re not close to guide as echo in cistern prohibits them turning their system loud. Guide said get close but a lot of group wanted close. Lovely tour, missed a lot of the talk. Turned hearing aids up but not enough.
Guide was amazing. Very informative and Rosemary made it so fun!