Houston: Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern Experiential Tour

Discover the secrets of one of Houston's most iconic and historical landmarks on a self-guided, walking tour. Great for first-time and repeat visitors alike, the Experiential Tour includes an introduction followed by an opportunity to explore the Cistern at your own pace. Digital and printed fact sheets are provided for all guests.

Check-in at the Visitor Center of Buffalo Bayou Park, Houston's oasis of greenery in the middle of the city. Meet your guide at the entrance of the Cistern, and discover this historical structure built in 1926 as the city's original drinking water reservoir.

You'll adventure into the cavernous cistern that has been repurposed as a subterranean public space. Marvel at an interior the size of 1.5 football fields which, at one time, held 15 million gallons of drinking water.

Unleash your inner child and play in the space. Try calling out to hear the 17-second echo as the sound of your voice bounces off the walls and ceilings. Admire the architecture of monolithic concrete columns.