Newsletter of Council Member Andrew Burks

Houston is blessed with a number of exciting and interesting museums. History, art, cultural exploration and science are cornerstones of the Houston museum experience. Our museums offer one of a kind opportunities to interact with and view spectacular elements of the natural world,human history and innovation.

I encourage everyone to explore Houston’s hidden gems – museums you might not have visited, but should.

1940 Air Terminal Museum

The 1940 Air Terminal Museum is a beautiful transformation of the original Houston Municipal Airport (now William P. Hobby Airport) terminal and hangars. Built as Houston’s first international airport by city leaders over 70 years ago, Hobby has had an exciting history which has transformed it into one of America’s favorite airports and hub for Southwest Airlines.

The terminal contains notable aviation memorabilia, and offers a glimpse back to the days when flying was a glamorous privilege. Artifacts of aviation history, both scientific and cultural, are on display. The museum also features a collection of historic photographs documents, videos as well as tours of the 1928 air mail hangar.

The terminal’s main lobby, a restored Art Deco atrium can also be rented for parties and special events. Visitors also get an up-close look at the current Hobby Airport from the building’s location at the end of the runway.

You can visit the 1940 Air Terminal Museum Online by clicking here. Guided tours are available to help you step back in time and enjoy aviation history. The museum is located at Hobby Airport at 8325 Travelair Street.

Houston Fire Museum

The Houston Fire Museum got its start in 1898 as Houston Fire Station Number 7, three years after the City of Houston transformed its fire department into a paid, professional organization. The two story building is a great example of early Houston Romanesque architecture.

No longer functioning, visitors can tour this historic station. When visiting, be sure to view the 1937 model Chevrolet pumper truck, a true artifact of fire fighting history. You will also find 19th century fire fighting equipment, and an 1895 model Ahrens Fox horse-drawn steamer, used by Houston’s first professional fire fighters over 100 years ago.

Fire safety and prevention education is a large part of the museum’s mission. You can learn more about the life of a building fire, from beginning to end, and learn fire prevention strategies for your home and office.

You can visit the museum’s website by clicking here. The Houston Fire Museum is located in Midtown at 2403 Milam Street.

Houston Maritime Museum

The Houston Maritime Museum is a great place to learn about the influence and achievements on the high seas.

The museum features over 150 model ships from periods throughout history, as well as offshore drilling platforms and other maritime artifacts. Currently, the museum is featuring a special exhibit on the history of the Houston Ship Channel and Port of Houston – America’s most successful port. The special exhibit begins with the early docks of 1820s Houston through the creation of one of the world’s largest sea ports.

Other features include ships of the Texas Navy and the boats of ancient Middle Eastern and Asian history.

Shipping and transportation is a vital element of Houston’s economy and way of life. The Houston Maritime Museum features this important element of Houston’s history and future and has exhibits just for kids.

The Houston Maritime Museum can be found online by clicking here and is located in the Medical Center area at 2204 Dorrington.

Last month, I had the opportunity to go behind the scenes at George Bush Intercontinental Airport. During my trip, I had the opportunity to experience our airport’s operations, tour Houston Fire Station 54 located at the end of two of our runways and, as you see above – fly a Lufthansa Airlines A-380 jumbo jet to Germany – or at least pretend to!

I would like to thank the hardworking staff at Houston Airport System, especially Mario Diaz, Director of Aviation, Kathy Elek and Aleks Mraovic for sharing their work with me. I would also like to thank the brave and hardworking firefighters of Fire Station 54 for making sure our city’s largest airport global aviation hub is a first-class facility in both customer service and safety.

As an Air Force Veteran, it was exciting to be up close and personal again with the busy runways and ramps of our airports. But far more exciting is the wonderful future IAH has to look forward to. In the coming months, United Airlines will offer international service to Lagos, Nigeria, London and Amsterdam aboard the 787 Dreamliner. Additionally, HAS is working hard to attract new international service to Asia, Africa and throughout the world. To accommodate this growth, Terminal D, our international gateway for foreign airlines, will experience a renovation to better welcome the world to Houston. I also viewed construction of Terminal B. This new terminal will allow for an even better gateway for United and United Express flights arriving from both domestic and international cities.

I was privileged to be able to tour Houston Fire Station 54, one of three stations located on the IAH airfield. During this visit, I was able to learn more about the equipment our firefighters use to fight fires inside aircraft, rescue people in the event of an emergency and keep flying safe.

The firefighters shared experiences and concerns with their life as a professional Houston Fire Fighter and allowed me a behind the scenes look at their important and brave work.

Making sure our first responders have the tools and training to keep Houstonians safe is my first priority as a member of City Council. Supporting HFD 54, and all first responders, is the privilege of a lifetime.

Houston’s Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center honors the brave soldiers who have fought terrorism around the globe each and every day. The VA has rolled out new programs to help serve veterans returning home from Iraq and Afghanistan. VA’s goal is to ensure every seriously injured or ill serviceman and woman returning from combat receives easy access to benefits and world-class service. To learn more about the VA and City of Houston’s newest programs for veterans, click here.

The Department of Veterans Affairs now offers a free Telephone Call Center, “Coaching Into Care,” which provides assistance to family members and friends trying to encourage their Veteran to seek health care for possible readjustment and mental health issues. You can reach the call center confidentially at (888) 823-7458.