29.7623, -95.3761
Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern
Houston, United States of America
About
The Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern is a former underground drinking-water reservoir built for Houston in 1926. Its 87,500-square-foot chamber contains 221 concrete columns and once held 15 million gallons of water. The city decommissioned it in 2007 after an irreparable leak. Buffalo Bayou Partnership found the largely forgotten chamber during park work in 2010, restored it, and opened it to the public in 2016. The dim interior and 17-second echo now support history tours and temporary art installations. Entry is timed, children under nine are not admitted, and the standard route covers about a quarter mile. A stationary or seated tour can be requested on arrival.
Supporting source: Legacy import provenance
Plan your visit
Hours
- Mon
- —
- Tue
- —
- Wed
- —
- Thu
- —
- Fri
- —
- Sat
- —
- Sun
- —
Tour and installation entry times vary within public hours.
Admission
Prices vary by tour or installation. Military, youth ages 9-17, college students, and seniors 65+ receive a $2 discount with ID.
Features & amenities
What to bring
- Water
- comfortable shoes
Good to know
- Wheelchair accessible
- Photos allowed
More near here
Other pins within walking distance of Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern.
Planning Houston
The rest of my Houston saves, on the city's planning pages.



