Many of you probably have taken a walk or run at Buffalo Bayou Park, which sits just west of downtown. However, did you know there’s a former drinking water reservoir that’s been restored into an 87,500-square-foot cistern? Well, now you do, and here’s how you can check it out!
The History
The Buffalo Bayou Park Cistern, which once held up to 15 million gallons of water, was built in 1926. The reservoir stored drinking water and supported the municipal water system for decades. After an unfixable leak was discovered, the reservoir was decommissioned in 2007. During development of the park in 2010, the Buffalo Bayou Partnership discovered the site and decided to restore it for future use.
The Cistern
The Cistern officially opened to the public in 2016. When you visit, you’ll find a ginormous underground space that is the size of 1.5 football fields. As you walk through, admire the tall, sleek concrete columns. An architect who helped work on the project redevelopment called the reservoir “The Cistern'' because it reminded him of the ancient Roman cisterns under Istanbul.
The Tours
The Cistern offers different tours based on your interests. For example, try this tour if you want to learn more about the history and the architecture, or book a private tour to explore The Cistern without the crowd. For something a little different, check out “Haha Real,” a new sound installation from artist Rachel Rossin that’s inspired by the children’s story “The Velveteen Rabbit.”
Here’s the exact location of The Cistern. If you visit soon or have a memory to share, let me know!
