Programs & Events at Bayou Bend
Bayou Bend is open year-round with programs and events for adults, children, and families. In addition to the highlights below, Bayou Bend offers a wide variety of special activities. For more information, contact Joey Milillo, programs manager, at jmilillo@mfah.org or 713.639.7759.
Are you interested in the docent program? Bayou Bend docents are nationally recognized volunteers who provide outstanding tours and education to visitors.
Mother’s Day Weekend
Saturday & Sunday, May 10 & 11
1 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Celebrate Mother’s Day at Bayou Bend surrounded by the beauty of nature, art, and music.
Rachel in Real Life | A Painter’s Muse in Revolutionary America
Charles Willson Peale, Self-Portrait with Angelica and Portrait of Rachel, c. 1782–85, oil on canvas, the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Bayou Bend Collection, gift of Miss Ima Hogg.
May 31, 2025
1:30 p.m.
Rachel Brewer Peale, one of the most frequently painted women of the Revolutionary era, remains largely invisible in the art historical record. This lecture uncovers her story as a central figure in a dynamic artistic family.
Summer History Camp
June 23—27 | July 14—18
Summer History Camp, open to 5th and 6th graders, challenges students to form opinions based on asking questions and making discoveries through active participation.
Questions? Contact Joey Milillo at jmilillo@mfah.org or 713.639.7759.
Detective Days
There’s mystery afoot at Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens for sleuths ages 6 and older. Detective Days feature self-guided activity sheets that challenge children’s observational skills and critical thinking.
Detective Days are available during self-guided tour hours for both the house and the gardens.
History Book Club
Bayou Bend and Rienzi host a book club inspired by life in America and Europe in the 16th, 17th, and 18th centuries. Presented alternately by each house museum, the History Book Club offers free discussions on a regular basis.
Speakers Bureau
Bayou Bend’s Speakers Bureau offers informative talks and lectures—illustrated with colorful slides—for groups and organizations interested in learning about antiques, history, holiday decorating, or the lifestyles of Americans in the past.
Pay an honorarium of $100 that is used to support the educational activities of Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens. Contact bbdospeakersbureau@gmail.com for more information.
Education programs at Bayou Bend receive generous funding from Houston Junior Woman's Club; Mary Lynn and Steve Marks; Susan Vaughan Foundation; Denise Monteleone; Ms. Bobbie Nau; William A. and Madeline Welder Smith Foundation; and additional generous donors.
These education programs also receive income from funds provided by the Carol and Les Ballard Endowment; the Judy and Charles Tate Endowment; the James William Glanville and Nancy Hart Glanville Endowment; the Barbara Graham Williams Endowment; and the Bayou Bend Bonnie A. Campbell Education Programs Endowment.