History Houston city was established in 1836 when Augustus Chapman Allen and John Kirby Allen advertised the "Town of Houston" in the Telegraph and Texas Register. Before becoming Houston (named after the first elected president of Texas, Sam Houston), the Karankawa and the Atakapa indigenous peoples inhabited the area for 2,000 years. By the time the first European settlers arrived in the 1830s, the land was uninhabited. Houston was renowned as a "great interior commercial emporium of Texas" and was home to the First Congress of the Republic of Texas between 1837 and 1839. Although city growth had been consistent, it slowed down due to the town being mud-bogged and having many yellow fever epidemics. The city officials attended to the building of its first dock in 1840, which resulted in Houston becoming a cotton-shipping port. Houston got its first railroad in 1853 and had a total of 12 railways by 1891. It was also a haven for Southerners running the Union naval blockade during the American Civil War. In 1863, the Confederacy's Trans-Mississippi Department made Houston its headquarters. In 1869, the Buffalo Bayou had undergone widening and deepening, making it the third-largest port in the United States by the early 1980s. Oil was discovered in Houston in 1901, which led to large-scale development for the city. The Houston Ship Channel was finished in 1914, which led to the birth of refineries along the channel between the 1920s and 1930s. Although Texas is rich in oil, it is also known as a destination for prime real estate. So, buy your house in this wealthy city to ensure an outstanding quality of life with access to the best amenities, education, and entertainment. After the American Civil War, segregation started forming in Houston, with separate neighborhoods developing for specific races. Houston experienced rioting in 1917 due to racial tensions when black U.S. Army soldiers were stationed in the city. These riots resulted in the deaths of 20 people. World War II offered Houston many opportunities, which led to the shipbuilding and petrochemical industries setting up shop in Houston. In 1948, the land was annexed and caused the city's size to almost triple. In 1961, the Manned Spacecraft Center, which was renamed the Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center in 1973, was opened in the southeast of downtown Houston and remains a favorite attraction. In the 1970s, hundreds of energy companies decided to base their headquarters in the city. This strategy made the city a world leader in energy and caused an economic boom. However, the city experienced an economic slump in the 1980s due to the oil industry collapsing but recovered by the 1990s. Today, Houston is a leader in the oil, energy, and chemical industries. However, it also houses a range of sectors: the high-technology, business, trade, and finance industries, not to mention a unique real estate market that draws crowds to this iconic city.

Houston offers activities for everyone. So whether you're visiting for business, a day trip, or even a little holiday, there is no reason for you to be bored, especially with these incredible attractions to keep you busy:

The Midtown Art and Theatre Center Houston: This 60,000 square-foot center, worth over $25 million, houses several performing and visual arts groups.

Geronimo Adventure Park: This aerial park is based in Northwest Houston and is perfect for friends, families, and teams to break away from the city hustle and bustle to enjoy the outdoors. The adventure park comprises three zipline sky trails, ax throwing, rock climbing, a fairy garden, and more.

Segway Tours of Houston: Explore Houston on two wheels! You can choose between three different tours, namely the Bayou tour, Twilight tour, and the Arena/Convention Center tour, which all still enthrall the locals.

NASA's Space Center: If space travel fascinates you, visit NASA's Space Center. This center is home to interesting and exciting history, like full-sized rockets and rocks brought back from the moon.

The Galleria: This is Texas' largest shopping center and the fourth largest in the country. The Galleria, over 2.4 million square feet in size, has 400 stores and eateries, two hotels, and even three office towers. So if you're desperate for a shopping spree, you need to check out the Galleria.