This International Women’s Day, we’re spotlighting the women that have made contributed to the excellence of our city. Here in Houston, we can get a glimpse of the legacy of Ima Hogg – otherwise known as the “First Lady of Texas” – at Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens.
While it is impossible to overstate the legacy of Texan icon, Ima Hogg, allow us this brief refresher; as one of the most respected Texas woman in the 20th century, Ima Hogg was an American Society Leader renowned for her philanthropy, civil service, and mental health advocacy.
Ima Hogg was also a patron and collector of the arts. Her former home on the grounds of the Museum of Fine Arts in River Oaks is a testament to this fact. Populated with collections decorative arts, paintings. and art pieces, Bayou Bend Collections is a year-round museum that stands as “one of the finest showcases of American furnishings, silver, ceramics, and paintings in the world.”
Here, the artwork isn’t confined to the building. Situated on 14 acres of gardens in River Oaks, the Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens is one of the most beautiful gardens in the city, featuring an array of superb gardens blooming with flowers, trees, and pristine hedges.
Bayou Bend Collections and Gardens likewise invites visitors for special programs and tours:
“Featuring the Lora Jean Kilroy Visitor and Education Center, which includes the Kitty King Powell Library and Study Center, as well as state-of-the-art education and rental spaces, Bayou Bend has established its place in the continually growing cultural arts scene of Houston,” the museum writes on its website.
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is open from 10 am – 5 pm Mondays through Saturdays and from 1 pm – 5 pm on Sundays.