Originally conceived as an underground connection between two downtown movie theaters, the original tunnel was built in the 1930s by ross sterling, also notable as the 31st governor of texas. More tunnels may be found in each state than are included on this list. A selfguided walking tour of downtown houston s buildings yellow loop here. The houston tunnel system is a network of subterranean, climatecontrolled, pedestrian walkways that links 95 full city blocks 20 feet 6 m below houston s downtown streets. Some forums can only be seen by registered members.
Discover houston s underground tunnel system with a local guide. Although the tunnel is one of houston s bestkept secrets, most of downtowns 150,000person workforce and thousands of visitors use it every day, particularly when its raining or close to 100 degrees above ground. Shouldnt this be something that should be readily available or am i just a. Inside the hidden world of the downtown tunnels houstonia. Access to the tunnel system is normally on weekdays, from 6. Downtown houston underground tunnels houston, texas. Houston tunnels app directory and map of the businesses in the. The houston tunnels app is the first digital directory and map of the tunnels in houston.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members its free and quick. This system of airconditioned skywalks and subterranean passages has been given many different names mall, concourse, connection, underground, promenade but houstonians. The most recent i can find is from 2005, where my building is not even connected. The downtown tunnel system consists of more than 6 miles of air conditioned walkways. Getting around houston is easy when you have the right resources.
There are about six miles of underground tunnels in downtown houston. Camp zoofari is an immersive experience for children ages 416. Downtown tunnels houston 2020 all you need to know before. The houston tunnel system is a network of subterranean, climatecontrolled, pedestrian. Buildings, streets and tunnels houston map, houston downtown, system. John culberson of houston says this project could be partially funded by federal emergency management agency hazard. Although close by, the other texan tunneling examples have distinct differences from houston.
Click the maps below for simple pdfs of the major parts of the city. I made it to scratch the itch i had myself of always wishing i had some sort of map when down in the tunnels, and i hope you find it useful too. At this time discover houston tours does not offer tunnel tours. There are similar systems in chicago, dallas, oklahoma city, montreal and toronto. Downtown houston tunnels 5 things you may not have known. Nov 30, 2011 i dont buy that excuse there are plenty of city with decent actvity on the surface that have tunnels, houston downtown has always been a bussiness district, i think that is just more houstians mindset, we just dont care to flock to downtown just for the hell of it, and i travel on the streets a reguar, i see people in the bars, and restarunts all the time, hell at around 1 the flying sauser.
A detailed map of the underground tunnel system beneath. We offer 3 different downtown tunnel tours by themes and geographic area in downtown. The guided tours are pricey for poor college students, so i was thinking about just using one of their maps and giving it a go. For a map of the tunnels and the buildings they connect, click here. You can also access the tunnels through the bank of america building, in the corner of milan st and capitol st, were you can find a grand entrance to these peculiar tunnels. I guess ill just walk down there and study the display. Or maybe just head back down to the tunnels the next time were in houston. On this greet we will be walking both in the tunnels and above ground, which is why i like to call it above and below downtown. Explore the newest and oldest tunnel sections that are open to the public learn about the history of houston through its architecture and art see beautiful art deco treasures and sculptures by worldfamous artists and learn how houston s 7 miles of pedestrian tunnels came to be. Discover houstons underground tunnel system with a local guide. Map including places to see and hotels in the downtown houston area. A selfguided walking tour of downtown houston s buildings red loop.
Climatecontrolled, the sevenmile network of tunnels is reliably cool and dry. Downtown houston has a fantastic but sprawling underground tunnel system with over 150 restaurants, shops, banks, and more. Go to the starbucks in 1100 louisiana pink building off of smith street and take the escalator down. Map in pdf format detailed houston tunnel map in adobe flash mobile applications. Cody swann history of the downtown houston tunnel system. The shops at houston center near a picturesque balcony overlooking toyota center, rests a curious sort. Ive exhausted my patience trying to find a current map of the downtown tunnel system. The tunnel system is open monday through friday from 6 a. Today more houston residents as well as visitors see downtown as a place to do far more than workdowntown is now a place to live, dine, visit, play, enjoy the arts, worship and learn. I think the tunnel tour exceeded my expectations in every way.
The houston tunnels app maps out all of the underground tunnels and marks each business. The best aboveground map of the downtown tunnels weve found is the one created by. All in a six mile, airconditioned network of tunnels that connect most major office. But theres no directory that lists all of these restaurants, shops, salons, doctors practices, and more until now.
The tunnels are an interesting way to get around downtown houston by foot, but do have a map to hand. The tunnels are large, well lit and busy, with regular places to get a snack, buy coffee or other small. Shouldnt this be something that should be readily available or am i. Did you know there are over 150 businesses located throughout the seven miles of tunnels under downtown houston. I made it to scratch the itch i had myself of always wishing i had some sort of map when down in the tunnels, and i. Having started out years ago as a tunnel between two downtown movie theaters, today it includes restaurants and service retail and connects 95 city blocks.
My mom and i learned more about houston than i could have thought imaginable, and we havent been able to stop talking about it with our friends and family. Resourceresource digital filesmaster planscad files. You can also take a guided tour of the tunnels with a local company or check out the map here. Downtown houston s underground tunnel system is also used primarily by residents who dont want to face the weather on their way to work or during lunch breaks, but for different reasons. Houston tunnels app directory and map of the businesses in. A selfguided walking tour of downtown houston s buildings city hall loop tunnel geology. The tunnels, being underground, are prone to flooding.
Jun 25, 2019 this handy, dandy map guides you through the downtown tunnels. Well, thats true, but most of them are walking underground, in the downtown tunnel system. The app contains markers and listings for every business in the tunnels. Downtowns underground is a system of tunnels 20 feet below houston s downtown streets and more than 6 miles long. The following is a list of some tunnels in the united states of america. Downtown tunnel system things to do in houston, tx 77002. Underground tunnels proposed for houston flooding houston. Jan 26, 2018 there are about six miles of underground tunnels in downtown houston. The houston tunnels app is made to help everyone discover the businesses, shops, and services located throughout the extensive 7 miles of tunnels in downtown houston. John culberson of houston says this project could be partially funded by. The houston tunnels best restaurants are literally underground. The houston airport system manages george bush intercontinental houston airport iah, william p. I think that the houston center shops are open during the day on saturday. Downtown houston tunnel system discover houston tours.
Explore the newest and oldest tunnel sections that are open to the public learn about the history of houston through its architecture and art see beautiful art deco treasures and sculptures by worldfamous artists and learn how houstons 7 miles of pedestrian tunnels came to be. Most of the more interesting places to wander around and eat atvisitshop atwhatever are on the tunnel loop see the map pdf. A scold is not usually a poet and take your time going more difficult figure to one being scolded but control methods is another word scold has a writes. Resourceresource digital filesmaster planscad files 20 park mapssam houston master plan 520 layout2 2 1 author. Treebeards is next to fuddruckers down there, and it gets really busy at lunchtime go a bit early 11am or a bit later 1, 1. Click here for a complete map of the houston tunnel system access points. Campus map gallery map the museum of fine arts, houston. I lived in houston from 1980 to 2016 and i never went below the surface in the underground tunnels of houston even though i drove the houston metro bus for first transit i never needed to get underground so i have no idea, i would give zero stars as i have no idea but there is not this option here in this survey. In a city of more than two million people, you would think our downtown streets would be filled with pedestrians during the lunch hour.
Downtown houstons underground tunnel system is also used primarily by residents who dont want to face the weather on their way to work or during lunch breaks, but for different reasons. I know, a listing of every restaurant, including the tunnels was a. A directorybased map of all tunnel shops and businesses can be found at houston tunnels. Mar 26, 2018 news underground tunnels proposed for houston flooding. The houston downtown management district publishes several maps online, including an excellent interactive map. This is a 11x17 map showing the different land use in city of houston. This handy, dandy map guides you through the downtown tunnels. But that doesnt mean they should be under your radar. The tunnels in san antonio, austin and dallas were all excavated in rock, which is generally less complicated to mine and support than houstons clay and sand.
Its also worth mentioning that the tunnels have been criticized for its numerous stairways, especially in the northern portion, which makes wheelchair use traffic impassable in some locations. Explore whats on offer with marriott bonvoy traveler. The downtown tunnel system is an interconnected series of restaurants, shops, etc. We will set a mutually convenient place to meet and then begin the journey. The downtown webportal is an innovative partnership dedicated to promoting the vitality of downtown houston. News underground tunnels proposed for houston flooding.
Buildings, streets and tunnels a detailed map of the underground tunnel system beneath downtown houston. Ive heard that the houston center section has stuff too, but ive never made it over to that section of the tunnels. When you have eliminated the javascript, whatever remains must be an empty page. During the long, hot summer days, most pedestrians are twenty feet below the street surface, shopping, eating, banking, getting a haircut. Downtowns underground is a system of tunnels 20 feet below houstons downtown. May 31, 2016 inside the hidden world of the downtown tunnels.
Soo, im thinking about taking a bunch of students college age through the houston tunnels during the winter break. Beat the heat by heading underground to shop and dine in houston s airconditioned tunnel complexes. They are fairly well signposted with different colored walkwaysareas. These are some of the best hidden restaurant gems in the entire city. Each spends time pointing out the architectural features, architects, history, usage of buildings, and history of houston. Downtown tunnels houston 2020 all you need to know.