Houston is the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest city in the United States. Its history dates back to 1836 when Gen. Sam Houston led the Texas Army to a brilliant victory over Mexico in the Battle of San Jacinto.

Sam Houston supported Unionism and defended the Indians, keeping people together and embracing their differences. The city of Houston continues to embrace all types of cultural influences and it shows in the art and architecture found all over the city.

Passing through the streets of Houston is not an easy task due to the citywide facelift occurring on virtually every street. Historic and modern art goes largely overlooked and screams for attention from the 1.9 million people passing by daily.

For example, the Personage and Birds piece stands 10 stories high in front of the Chase Tower on the corner of Capital and Milam. The primary colors and contemporary structure distinguish it from other landmarks.

A short walk away is the Seven Wonders or Pillars of the Community. This monument stands behind the Wortham Center at 550 Prairie Ave. Mel Chin and 1,050 school children designed the Seven Wonders' towers so that each tower represents one part of Houston's history: agriculture, energy, medicine, manufacturing, philanthropy, technology and transportation.

Just across Buffalo Bayou is the newly designed Aquarium, whose Ferris wheel stands well above I-45 and illuminates the Houston skyline with brilliant blue lights.

The Hard Rock Cafe Houston at Bayou Place provides dining and entertainment in one huge complex on the corner of Texas Avenue and Smith Street. Customers walk in the door to find a suspended art car in flames hanging under an abstract and vibrant mural ceiling.

Tranquility Park sits on the corner of Smith and Rusk and is filled with a 2-block-long, 32-level fountain that commemorates the first lunar landing. The pillars resemble rockets and the entire fountain lights up, glowing among the buildings.

Just across the street on Bagby and Walker is the newly completed $92 million Hobby Center. In Minds, designed by Tony Cragg, features two onyx abstract faces gracing the front of the performance venue and looking as if they are facing each other in motion.

In the middle of downtown is the Monument au Fantome, which stands tall with its towering neighbors, at 1100 Louisiana. Some have described it as "the cat in the hat of skylines" with its curves and towers. French creator Even Jean Dubuffet gifted Houston streets with his structure in 1983.

A ride west of downtown to the museum district takes you to the Lillie and Hugh Roy Cullen Sculpture Garden, which rests outside of the Museum of Fine Arts Houston on Montrose Boulevard. A peaceful sanctuary surrounded by grass-covered mounds and walls of varying heights invites pedestrians inside to muse over the outdoor sculptures, trees and plants. Although somewhat secluded in the maze of streets near Hermann Park, designer Isamu Noguchi's retreat provides peaceful aesthetics to passerbys.

Of Gus S. Wortham's many contributions to Houston, one that is often unnoticed is Wortham Fountain at the Medical Center. Located on the corner of Main and Holcombe, ivy covered columns line the streets while ascending waterfall columns lead through the middle of the park to a dancing water garden. Each side of the water garden is ruled with ivy grown walls hiding benches that offer people a water ballet view.

Houston's west side offers one of the city's most significant icons utilizing unique art as well as unique architecture. Formerly known as the Transco Tower, the Williams Tower was built in 1983. The tower boasts 64 floors and has a rotating aircraft-like beacon that can be seen from all around Houston. Located at 2800 Post Oak Blvd., the tower rises from a magnificent water wall. The horseshoe shaped wall runs with turbulent water and lights up at night to illuminate the base of the tower.

Another architectural icon, located on the east side of downtown, is the Bank of America Center. The design, inspired by the canal houses of The Netherlands, provides gables that are instantly recognizable. Reaching 56 stories, it actually envelopes the old two story Western Union Building, which designers did not want to move due to the electrical connections it still houses. Clad in Swedish granite, the dark pink color sets it apart from all other buildings.

Perhaps Houston's most historic church, Antioch Missionary Baptist Church, stands surrounded by skyscrapers and was built in 1879. The two-story church, designed by Richard Allen, boasts "Jesus Saves" in neon against the former Enron Building background. Two white ministers and nine former slaves founded the congregation after learning that they had been emancipated. This is Houston's first black church. In 1994 the church was declared an historic landmark.

One of the newer structural designs inserted into the Houston Historic District is the newly named Minute Maid Park. Designed by HOK Sports Facility Group, the sports venue is located at 501 Crawford. Due to the excruciating heat and humidity of Houston, the retractable roof not only keeps the rain out, it also helps keep the air conditioning in. The roof weighs 18 million pounds, covers 6.5 acres and should last about 50 years before needing a replacement. Minute Maid Park boasts a very unique design and plans to host the 2004 Major League Baseball All-Star Game.

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