There's a great deal of history in and around Houston, and this website provides access to the rich collections of the Houston Public Library and other community archives. (The oldest known photograph of Houston is front and center on the homepage.) Visitors can look through thematic collections, including the "Houston Oral History Project," "African American Collections," and "Houston Area...

Houston has been called the city of the 21st century, so it makes sense to look back at its past development through maps that document its many changes. This digital collection from the Houston Public Library brings together 44 wonderful maps of Houston, Galveston, and other surrounding areas. The really intriguing items are the Houston Street Guide maps, which date from 1904, 1912, and 1913....