Visiting Bayou Bend

Click on the arrow below to watch a short video produced by BIOGRAPHY with information about Bayou Bend's legendary founder, Ima Hogg; the extraordinary collection; and the beautiful, historic gardens.

Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, a 10-minute drive from the main MFAH campus, houses the Early American decorative arts and paintings collections of the museum, recognized as among the finest in the nation. The magnificent former home of Houston philanthropist and collector Miss Ima Hogg, the 1928 John Staub-designed house is situated on 14 acres of organically maintained gardens in the historic River Oaks neighborhood.

Miss Hogg (1882–1975) devoted her life to Houston's early civic, educational, and cultural institutions. She was also an astute and ambitious collector, determined to assemble the finest examples of American material culture from 1620 to 1870. In 1957, she donated her home and collections to the MFAH. Bayou Bend opened to the public in 1966, quickly establishing itself locally and nationally as a cultural treasure. Today, nearly 2,600 objects installed in 28 period room settings showcase the evolution of American taste from the Colonial through the Victorian eras, including furnishings, paintings, silver, ceramics, and glass. Outside, visitors stroll through surrounding woodlands and a series of gracious and beautiful gardens that Miss Hogg intended as outdoor rooms for living and entertaining, not just views to be admired from within the house.

in September 2010, Bayou Bend opened a new visitor center designed to be a modern gateway to the historic collections and gardens. The house is just a short walk away, through a bird sanctuary and over a suspension bridge that spans Buffalo Bayou.

Take a virtual tour of Bayou Bend's period rooms.

The Lora Jean Kilroy Visitor and Education Center

The Lora Jean Kilroy Visitor and Education Center at Bayou Bend features an orientation gallery, a library, a retail shop, two meeting rooms, public terraces, and ample parking. Designed by Houston architect Leslie K. Elkins and opened in September 2010, the building achieved a LEED Silver Certification for its environmental efficiencies.

What You’ll Find in the Kilroy Center

The Shop at Bayou Bend
As featured in Texas Monthly''s March 2011 issue, Bayou Bend’s new shop offers a memorable retail experience in a boutique atmosphere. Browse a selection of unique products, in all price ranges, that reflect quality, craftsmanship, and the beauty of Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. The Shop at Bayou Bend is open Tuesday–Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday from 1 to 5 pm. The Shop does not yet offer online shopping: Call 713.353.1544 to order by phone.

Orientation Gallery
Begin your visit to Bayou Bend in the Kilroy Center’s T.L.L. Temple Foundation Orientation Gallery. Here, visitors become acquainted with Bayou Bend through several introductory videos, and discover ways to enrich their tour.

Hogg Family Legacy Room
Art objects, memorabilia, and large information panels introduce you to the rich legacy of the Hogg family in Texas

Kitty King Powell Library and Study Center
The Kitty King Powell Library and Study Center houses an outstanding non-circulating collection of more than 6,000 books, periodical volumes, and auction catalogues, which are available to the public. The library is open Tuesday–Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm.

Meeting Rooms
The Kilroy Center features two spacious, multipurpose rooms for education programs, meetings, and facility rentals. These first-floor rooms overlook landscaped gardens and are accessible to outdoor terraces.

Facility Rental Info

Hours and Admissions

Call 713.639.7750 for information,
reservations, and to arrange special tours.
Bayou Bend is closed on Mondays

Guided House Tours (reservations recommended)
Not available during August
Tuesday–Thursday
10–11:30 am; 1– 2:45 pm
Friday–Saturday
10–11:15 am
Tours last 1 hour and begin every 15 minutes

Self-Guided Tours (No reservations needed)
Friday–Sunday
1– 5 pm (last admission 4 pm)
August Schedule
Tuesday–Saturday
10 am–5 pm (last admission 4 pm)
Sunday
1– 5 pm (last admission 4 pm)

Self-Guided Gardens Tours (No reservations needed)
Tuesday–Saturday
10 am–5 pm
Sunday
1–5 pm

Admission
$10 General Admission
$8.50 Students / Senior Adults (ID Required)
$5 Children 10–17
Free Children 9 and under*
*Children 9 and under are not permitted on guided house tours.

Gardens-Only Admission
$3 Ages 10 and up
Free Children 9 and under

Directions

Click here for a detailed map and directions to Bayou Bend.

Tips for Visiting

Please store all purses, bags, backpacks, coats, cell phones, and cameras in lockers during your tour. Amateur photography and videotaping are allowed outdoors only. Bayou Bend reserves the right to prohibit photography and videotaping on the grounds for any reason. Children 10 and older are welcome on guided home tours, and children of all ages are welcome on Sundays. Baby carriers must be worn on the front of the adult, and babies in carriers of any kind are not allowed on guided home tours.

All ages are welcome in the gardens. When you reserve a tour, please notify the tour coordinator if members of your party are physically challenged, or if someone is celebrating a special occasion. Please arrive at least 10 minutes earlier than the scheduled tour time so that you can store your belongings and start the tour on time. Wear comfortable shoes, as tours last about an hour and seating areas are limited.

Guests are welcome to visit Bayou Bend's gardens before and after the tour. Most areas at Bayou Bend are accessible for wheelchairs and people with limited mobility, consider calling ahead (713.639.7750) to inform the staff about any issues so arrangements can be made to make your visit as enjoyable as possible.

PLEASE NOTE ► Google Maps may show Bayou Bend as a cut-through from the Memorial area to River Oaks, but this shortcut is not available. Neither the MFAH nor Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is responsible for any unauthorized Internet content that may provide misinformation regarding, but not limited to, hours of operation, admissions, or public access. Thanks for your understanding

From the Director

Welcome to Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens online. America has always been a nation of collectors. From the humblest houses to the most magnificent mansions, American homes are filled with objects that proclaim our status, our lifestyle, and our place in the world. For Miss Ima Hogg, the legendary Texas collector and philanthropist, the collecting impulse lay at the heart of America's heritage. In 1920 she began acquiring furniture and other objects that would tell the history of colonial America, and would evolve into the Bayou Bend Collection, one of the nation's foremost assemblages of American decorative arts dating from 1620 through 1870. Bayou Bend, the beautiful house with the romantic name, was designed as a private residence for Miss Hogg and her brothers, Will and Mike. Although the house was not built until 1928, the room settings faithfully re-create interiors from previous eras. Miss Hogg donated Bayou Bend to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston in 1957, with the understanding that it would be converted into a house museum. Over the next decade, rooms that once served Miss Hogg's personal needs were transformed into period settings to showcase her superb collection. Although the house opened to the public in 1966, Miss Hogg continued avidly to collect for her beloved Bayou Bend until her death in 1975 at the age of 93. The objects in the Bayou Bend Collection are among the finest examples of American design and craftsmanship, but they also reflect the tastes, values, and aspirations of ordinary Americans. Today, the collection fulfills Miss Hogg's dream that "Bayou Bend may serve as a bridge to bring us closer to the heart of an American heritage which unites us." We hope you will enjoy your "cyber" visit and will be inspired to visit Bayou Bend in Houston.

Sincerely,
Bonnie Campbell
Director, Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens

Conservation programs at Bayou Bend receive generous funding from the George and Mary Josephine Hamman Foundation; Mr. Charles Butt; Dr. and Mrs. Frederick R. Lummis, Jr.; Carol and Les Ballard; the Elva Johnston Foundation; the Don and Colletta McMillian Foundation; and Anne and J. Taft Symonds.