Location of Interest: The Cistern (Houston, Texas)
Previous: Underground Water Reservoir - Active 1926 - 2007Coordinates: 29.7626° N, 95.3766° W
Walk along Buffalo Bayou Park, or even other near-downtown spots, and you'll see odd little hatches dotting here or there. These are entrances to a mysterious Houston underground, which was rediscovered in recent years, although used until 2007. But who knew?
Now, the Cistern at Buffalo Bayou Park is a feature allowing Houstonians to view something amazing and from our past. The subterranean cavern is a former drinking water reservoir built in 1926, designed to be part of the city's municipal water strategy for fire suppression (water pressure) and drinking water storage. Only after an irreparable leak was discovered, the reservoir was decommissioned in 2007.
The reservoir was originally slated for demolition, however, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership (BBP) began an effort to preserve the unusual space, working out an arrangement with the City of Houston to take over development and maintenance of the space.
The Cistern was restored and began a new, repurposed life as a public space to house art installations. The Cistern opened to the public in May 2016.
