In 1893, George H. Hermann donated a site for the purpose of a charitable hospital. It would later become Memorial Hermann Hospital in the Texas Medical Center.

On May 30, 1922, George Hermann, a millionaire, donated land to the city that would later become the Hermann Park. September of the same year saw the start of the Houston Zoo. The zoo was started when Houston schoolchildren bought two ostriches. The zoo was later moved from Sam Houston Park to Hermann Park. September 26 saw the first international-bound ship in the port. During the Roaring Twenties', more specifically 1927, the state highway to Houston was built. Bus and truck operations also fell into swing. Houston Junior College opened its doors that same year, which would later become the University of Houston.

The M. D. Anderson Foundation formed the Texas Medical Center in 1945. That same year, the University of Houston separated from HISD and became a private university.

The medical center became operational in the 1950s.  In 1951, the Texas Children's Hospital and the Shriner's Hospital were built. Existing hospitals had expansions being completed.

In 1963, the University of Houston ended its status as a private institution and became a state university by entering into the Texas State System of Higher Education after a long battle with opponents from other state universities blocking the change.

In the 1970's, the Third Ward became the center for African-American activity in the city. In 1977, the University of Houston celebrated its 50th anniversary as the Texas Legislature established the University of Houston System, a state system of higher education that includes three other universities.

In 1985, the University of Houston changed its name to the University of Houston-University Park in order separate its identity and confusion with the other three universities within the UH System.  Admission fees on the Houston Zoo came the first time in 1988.

Points of Interest

University of Houston (visit website)

The University of Houston, the largest university in the city, is built on 330 acres south of the Gulf Freeway.  It started as a junior college of the Houston Independent School District in 1927 and achieved university status in 1934.  Local Houston philanthropists have aided the growth of the university.  The names of its schools and buildings--the Cullen School of Engineering, the Nina Cullinan Hall, the Hilton School of Hotel Management and the M.D. Anderson Memorial Library--indicate the sources of generous gifts.  The eight story General Classroom Building stands in an ornamental sunken garden.  The University of Houston's downtown college is housed in the old Merchant and Manufactures Building (the M & M Building), designed by Giesecke and Harris.  The ten story structure, dedicated in 1930, was patterned after a similar Chicago building of the 1920's.

Texas Southern University (visit website)

Texas Southern University is located on 58 acres at Wheeler Street.  The archives of the old Negro College for Men, which it succeeded, are in the vaults of the college library.  Former Congresswoman Barbara Jordan is an alumna of the school.

Hermann Park (visit website)

The 545-acre Hermann Park, which contains the zoo and public recreational facilities, was named for George Hermann, an affluent Houstonian who, in 1914, donated the land for the park.  Located in it is the log house headquarters of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, San Jacinto Chapter.  Reminiscent of the early log houses in Houston, the stones for the fireplace come from historic old homes throughout Texas.  In another part of the park stands a statue of General Sam Houston, which was unveiled in August, 1925.  Besides this, it was George Hermann who also donated land in the present City Hall area for a public square.  The one stipulation he made was that anybody who might wish to do so could sleep there "undisturbed by the forces of law and order."

Memorial Park is the largest public park in Houston, stretching over a thousand acres.  The park contains the Houston Arboretum and botanical gardens and numerous recreational facilities.

The Medical Center

The Texas Medical Center started with a dream to create a medical center, where people from all walks of life could have access to the best health care anywhere - whether they were rich, poor, famous, alone, young, or old.

In the more than 50 years since that dream originated, it has been realized many times over. The Texas Medical Center today has 42 member institutions that each exists to serve all of mankind. On any given day, one can find people from every social circumstance and many of the world's nations seeking treatment at the center's renowned institutions.