The Heritage Society at Sam Houston Park and Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney’s Historic Houston celebrates Houston’s 189th Birthday on Saturday, August 23, 2025, with free activities in the afternoon and a 250th America Anniversary theme as described below.

Mayor Whitmire and Council Members have been invited to cut the cake around 3:30 PM.

Youth leaders from around Houston will be there for a Houston pep rally and interactively participate in a fun educational program about Houston’s origins. The Heights High School Junior ROTC will perform a color guard ceremony as a part of a countdown of America’s 250th Anniversary. This is a family-friendly and school-friendly energetic, event.

Special thanks to our sponsors: Houston History Bus for the tours, C. Baldwin Hotel for the grand prize, and Three Brothers Bakery for the decadent cakes.

FREE EVENTS BELOW.

Our museum gallery is free from 1 p.m. - 5 p.m. to enjoy three exhibits. (1) Coastal Cowboys, (2) Texas America250 Exhibit by Texas State Library and Archives Commission, and (3) UH Latino cARTographies digital board.

Tour 2 historic house tours from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. (Kellum Noble House and Old Place)

Enjoy cake from Three Brothers Bakery and punch!

Someone will win a free weekend stay with brunch from our friends at C. Baldwin Hotel, down the street. The drawing will be held at the end of the event.

Around 4:00 PM, enjoy a free downtown Houston History Bus tour of Downtown by Mister McKinney of Mister McKinney’s Historic Houston. All we ask is that you follow him on Facebook and Instagram here- https://www.facebook.com/MisterMcKinneysHistoricHouston/ and https://www.instagram.com/mistermckinneyshistorichouston/. Seating is limited, sign-up is in person.

The actual birthday for Houston is August 30, 1836, but we want to celebrate a little early this weekend.

Guest Speakers & VIPs

• President Jillian Jopling

• Council Member Amy Peck

• Council Member Julian Ramirez

• Judge Israel Garcia, Honorary Co-Chair

• TSLAC Chair, Dr. Martha Wong

• State Archivist Jelain Chubb (exhibit docent)

• Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center Manager Alana Inman (exhibit docent)

In-Kind Donors & Supporters

• Mister McKinney

• Three Brothers Bakery

• Houston History Bus

• C. Baldwin Hotel