num_pages: 271
description: Says author Ron Stone about his hometown of Houston, "Rarely has any city in the world gone from nothing to something so fast." Barely an inkling of an idea in the 1830s, today the city of Houston is America's fourth-largest and a place of distinct character and appeal. Stone regales his readers with stories of General Sam Houston, the city's namesake, and his quick defeat of General Santa Anna at the Battle of San Jacinto; of the Allen brothers, who came to Texas with the sole purpose of building and promoting a new town; and of the parade of entrepreneurs, adventurers, and wide-eyed dreamers who have come to Houston through the years to build themselves a city unlike any other. Using an exquisite collection of color photographs from the area's finest photographers, Simply Spectacular details the many assets that this booming city has to offer. First-rate art museums. Renowned performing arts organizations. Excellent colleges and universities. One of the world's most respected health care centers. Numerous sports and recreation opportunities. The groundbreaking NASA program. And don't forget the headquarters of some of the world's leading petrochemical companies. These are but a few of the amenities and distinctions that Houston calls its own. Stone tells the story of Houston with the same large appetite for life that inhabitants of this great city exhibit. Such zeal for living helped make Houston one of the great inventions of the 19th century, and ensures that the city will remain simply spectacular.
language: English
title: Houston: Simply Spectacular
titlecomplete: Houston: Simply Spectacular (Urban Tapestry Series)
publisher: Towery Pub