Houston - 1950-1999 Did You Know

1. 1950: Houston became the home of the first-ever televised MLB game in which the Houston Buffs defeated the Beaumont Roughnecks.
2. 1951: The Houston Sports Association was formed to bring major league sports teams to the city.
3. 1952: Houston’s first television station, KPRC-TV, began broadcasting, significantly expanding the city’s media landscape.
4. 1953: The Shamrock Hotel hosted the famous “Shamrock Hilton Incident,” where oil tycoon Glenn McCarthy threw a lavish party that inspired the movie “Giant.”
5. 1954: Houston’s population reached half a million people, confirming its status as one of America’s fastest-growing cities.
6. 1955: The University of Houston created one of the first university-level programs in space science, predating NASA’s own projects.
7. 1956: Texas Instruments opened its first office in Houston, beginning the city’s development as a major technology hub.
8. 1957: The Houstonian Hotel opened and quickly became a favorite spot for U.S. presidents and celebrities visiting the city.
9. 1958: Houston’s first shopping mall, Gulfgate Mall, opened, introducing a new era of suburban retail.
10. 1959: The Astrodome, the world’s first domed stadium, was conceptualized, later earning the nickname “The Eighth Wonder of the World.”
11. 1960: NASA announced the selection of Houston as the site for the Manned Spacecraft Center (now Johnson Space Center).
12. 1961: The Houston Oilers won the first-ever AFL Championship, marking the city’s emergence as a major sports center.
13. 1962: The Houston Colt .45s (later the Astros) played their first game, bringing Major League Baseball to the city.
14. 1963: The Houston Ballet was founded, establishing the city’s long-term commitment to the performing arts.
15. 1964: President Lyndon B. Johnson chose Houston to be the site of the Texas Heart Institute, a leading cardiovascular research and treatment center.
16. 1965: The Astrodome officially opened, hosting a game between the Houston Astros and the New York Yankees.
17. 1966: Houston’s first public television station, KUHT, began broadcasting, offering educational and cultural programming.
18. 1967: The University of Houston became a state university, joining the newly created University of Houston System.
19. 1968: The Houston Intercontinental Airport (now George Bush Intercontinental Airport) opened, significantly expanding air travel capacity.
20. 1969: Houston received the first word from the moon spoken by Neil Armstrong: “Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed.”
21. 1970: The famous Rothko Chapel opened, offering a non-denominational sanctuary and featuring Mark Rothko’s art.
22. 1971: The Houston Rockets basketball team relocated to the city from San Diego, enhancing Houston’s presence in professional sports.
23. 1972: Houston’s first major freeway, the Gulf Freeway, was completed, significantly improving transportation within the city.
24. 1973: The Houston Symphony moved into the newly constructed Jones Hall, marking a new era for the city’s music scene.
25. 1974: Houston was struck by a major flood, leading to significant improvements in flood control and emergency management.
26. 1975: The Contemporary Arts Museum Houston was opened, showcasing modern and contemporary art from around the world.
27. 1976: The Houston Marathon was held for the first time, becoming an annual event.
28. 1977: The Alley Theatre won the Tony Award for Outstanding Regional Theatre.
29. 1978: The Menil Collection, one of the most significant private art collections, was established in Houston.
30. 1979: Houston hosted the International Energy Conference, reflecting its status as a global energy capital.
31. 1980: The Houston Spaceport was proposed, envisioning future space travel and industry.
32. 1981: Houston experienced a major economic boom due to rising oil prices, dramatically affecting local development.
33. 1982: The Houston Grand Opera won its first Grammy Award for Best Opera Recording.
34. 1983: The Houston Aeros won the WHA Avco World Trophy before the league merged with the NHL.
35. 1984: Houston’s population exceeded 1.6 million, making it the fourth largest city in the United States.
36. 1985: The Texas Medical Center exceeded 50 institutions, making it the largest medical complex in the world.
37. 1986: The Houston Rockets reached the NBA Finals for the second time, uniting the city in support of their team.
38. 1987: The “Houston Plan,” an ambitious

urban planning initiative, was launched to revitalize downtown Houston.
39. 1988: The Wortham Theater Center opened, becoming the new home for the Houston Ballet and Houston Grand Opera.
40. 1989: Houston was selected as one of the host cities for the 1994 FIFA World Cup, enhancing its international profile.
41. 1990: The Hubble Space Telescope, with significant components developed in Houston, was launched into orbit.
42. 1991: The Houston Rockets’ Hakeem Olajuwon won his first NBA MVP award.
43. 1992: Houston hosted the economic summit of the Group of Seven (G7), showcasing its role on the global stage.
44. 1993: The George R. Brown Convention Center opened, dramatically increasing the city’s convention capacity.
45. 1994: The Houston Rockets won their first NBA championship, led by Hakeem Olajuwon.
46. 1995: The Houston Museum District was formally established, centralizing the city’s major museums.
47. 1996: Enron, a Houston-based company, was named “America’s Most Innovative Company” by Fortune magazine.
48. 1997: Tropical Storm Frances hit Houston, causing widespread flooding and leading to further enhancements in storm preparedness.
49. 1998: The first segment of Houston’s light rail system was approved by voters.
50. 1999: Houston celebrated its 100th anniversary of the founding of the Houston Symphony Orchestra.
51. 1950: Houston was the first city in the world to reach a total of one million air-conditioned spaces.
52. 1951: The Houston Police Department established its first K-9 Corps, enhancing law enforcement capabilities.
53. 1952: The iconic Chase Tower, originally known as the Texas Commerce Tower, was constructed, becoming one of the tallest buildings in Texas.
54. 1953: Houston became the headquarters for NASA’s Manned Spacecraft Center, cementing its role in space exploration.
55. 1954: Houston’s first major league professional sports team, the Houston Buffaloes, was integrated, breaking racial barriers in sports.
56. 1955: The Houston Rodeo moved to the new Astrodome, significantly increasing its capacity and setting attendance records.
57. 1956: The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center performed its first bone marrow transplant.
58. 1957: Houston’s first television broadcast in color took place, changing the visual landscape of local media.
59. 1958: The Houston Grand Prix was held for the first time, introducing Formula One racing to Texas.
60. 1959: Houston’s first public golf course, Memorial Park Golf Course, was opened.
61. 1960: Houston’s Astroworld, a theme park conceived by former Mayor Roy Hofheinz, opened its gates.
62. 1961: Houstonian Alan Shepard became the first American in space, launching from Cape Canaveral, Florida.
63. 1962: The Houston Colt .45s played their inaugural game at Colt Stadium, a temporary structure until the Astrodome was completed.
64. 1963: The Houston Independent School District began its desegregation efforts, a significant event in the city’s civil rights movement.
65. 1964: The Beatles played at the Houston Coliseum, their only visit to the city, attracting thousands of fans.
66. 1965: The Houston Astrodome hosted the “Game of the Century” in college basketball between the University of Houston and UCLA.
67. 1966: The Houston Folk Music Archive was established, preserving the city’s contributions to the folk music revival.
68. 1967: The Houston Astros hosted the MLB All-Star Game at the Astrodome, the first held indoors.
69. 1968: Barbara Jordan became the first African American woman from the South elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, from Houston.
70. 1969: The Woodlands, a master-planned community north of Houston, began development.
71. 1970: The “Houston Mass Murders” were uncovered, one of the most horrific series of killings in U.S. history.
72. 1971: Houston’s first Vietnamese newspaper, Vietnamese Business Directory, was published, reflecting the growing diversity.
73. 1972: The Sharpstown Scandal, involving high-level political corruption, broke out, involving several Houston politicians.
74. 1973: The Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center became the site of mission control for NASA’s Skylab, America’s first space station.
75. 1974: Houston hosted the Super Bowl VIII at Rice Stadium, showcasing the city to a national audience.
76. 1975: The first emergency 911 call in Houston was made, marking a significant advancement in emergency services.
77. 1976: Houston’s skyline was dramatically changed with the completion of the 75-story JPMorgan Chase Tower.
78. 1977: “Houston, we have a problem,” was famously transmitted from Apollo 13, coining a phrase that would become synonymous with the city.
79. 1978: The Houston Galleria area became recognized as a business district, sparking major commercial and residential developments.
80. 1979: The Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was founded, highlighting the increasing influence of the Hispanic community.
81. 1980: The “Killer Bees,” a group of Texas state senators including one from Houston, staged a famous filibuster.
82. 1981: Houston hosted the International Special Olympics, emphasizing inclusivity and community in sports.
83. 1982: The Houston Food Bank was established, becoming one of the largest food banks in the country.
84. 1983: Houston launched its first major public art program, “Art in Public Places,” beautifying the city with works from local and international artists.
85. 1984: Michael Jordan played his first NBA game in Houston against the Rockets.
86. 1985: The Houston Area Women’s Center opened, providing support services for women and families in crisis.
87. 1986: The Transco Tower (now Williams Tower) was completed, noted for its unique design and being one of the tallest buildings outside a downtown area.
88. 1987: The Menil Collection, a museum housing the private art collection of John de Menil and Dominique de Menil, opened to the public.
89. 1988: Houston’s first internet service provider began operations, connecting the city to the growing web.
90. 1989: The first episode of the hit reality TV show “COPS” was filmed in Houston.
91. 1990: Houston was officially recognized as the most diverse city in the United States by the U.S. Census Bureau.
92. 1991: The “Save Our Beaches” campaign successfully protected Galveston beaches near Houston from overdevelopment.
93. 1992: The Houston Rockets began playing at the Toyota Center, moving from their previous arena.
94. 1993: The first successful cloned calf in the United States was born at the Texas A&M University veterinary complex near Houston.
95. 1994: Houston hosted the Summit of the Americas, where NAFTA was discussed among North and South American leaders.
96. 1995: The Houston Aeros won the Turner Cup in the International Hockey League.
97. 1996: The Texas Children’s Hospital, the largest children’s hospital in the United States, opened a new wing.
98. 1997: Enron Field (now Minute Maid Park), home of the Houston Astros, began construction.
99. 1998: Tropical Storm Frances caused significant flooding, leading to major improvements in stormwater management.
100. 1999: Houston celebrated the new millennium with a massive fireworks display at the Millennium Celebration, attended by over 100,000 people.