EVENING SPEAKER & WINE RECEPTION SERIES
Join The Heritage Society’s Speaker Series and Wine Reception in Houston for an evening of local history, expert talks, and curated wines. Network with history enthusiasts and reserve your spot today and support our mission to preserve Houston’s history. These programs are sponsored in part by the Summerlee Foundation.
History of the Port of Houston
Speaker: Erik Eriksson, Chief Legal Officer for Port Houston
Wednesday, Oct. 22, 2025, 6:00 PM
Sponsored in part by: Angela and William T. Cannady
Buffalo Bayou has shaped Houston since before the city’s founding, serving as a vital 52-mile waterway that carried trade goods—from cotton and lumber to livestock—between inland Texas and Galveston Bay. In 1836, the Allen brothers recognized its navigable potential and platted Houston along its banks, setting the stage for steamboats to anchor the young city’s economy. Today, the bayou remains both an ecological treasure and a hub for urban recreation, with trails, parks, and paddle tours honoring its legacy as Houston’s original lifeline.
As commerce outgrew the bayou’s natural depth, local leaders campaigned for a deep-water channel. In 1911, voters approved bonds that created the Harris County Houston Ship Channel Navigation District—now Port Houston—and by 1914 the dredge TEXAS had opened the channel to large ocean-going vessels. Thousands celebrated its inauguration with a 21-gun salute and President Woodrow Wilson’s remotely fired cannon christening the port, declaring, “Port of Houston; hither the boats of all nations may come and receive hearty welcome.” More than a century later, this same port will host Houston’s first USS Navy Fleet Week—bringing ships, sailors, and community celebrations to the docks from November 5–12, 2025.
The evening on Wednesday, October 22, begins with a wine-and-cheese reception at 6 p.m. at The Heritage Society Museum, where you can explore Coastal Cowboys, an exhibition celebrating the working cowboys of the Texas Gulf Coast. Eriksson’s talk begins at 6:30 p.m. followed by Q&A.
Location and Tickets The Heritage Society is at 1100 Bagby Street, and tickets are $10. Members are free as a benefit. Want to become a member? Click HERE.
Free parking is at 212 Dallas Street. Paid parking is at 1200 Bagby Street.
About the Speaker
Erik Eriksson serves as Chief Legal Officer of Port Houston, overseeing its legal and records management functions. Prior to joining Port Houston in 2005, Mr. Eriksson held successively more responsible legal and management positions at a multi-billion dollar publicly-listed holding company.
Mr. Eriksson has been a director of the Southampton Civic Club since 2003, served as its president from 2005 to 2008, and is currently president of the University Place Association and Super Neighborhood. He also serves on the Executive Committee of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership Board of Directors and the Board of Directors of the Houston International Seafarers’ Centers and Jazz Houston.
A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Mr. Eriksson is a member of the bar in Texas, California, and New York.
