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East End - Houston Hotels .com

Houston's East End was founded in 1826 by the enterprising pioneer John Richard Harris. Modestly dubbed Harrisburg back in those days, it was little more than a scrappy trading post run by Harris and brother, Davis, with schooners running lumber and cotton as far away as New Orleans. After Harris died of yellow fever in 1829, his wife, Jane, took over. For a brief time in 1836, this outpost became the capitol of the new Republic of Texas, before it was burned to the ground by the Mexican army. Jane Harris and her son luckily escaped the blaze and later returned to help rebuild the little town after General Sam Houston liberated Texas from Mexican governance. In 1926, the City of Houston annexed Harrisburg and welcomed its slice of rough-and-tumble history as Houston's East End.

Architect enthusiasts love Houston's East End for its historic, well-preserved homes, while shoppers will enjoy perusing Gulfgate Center Mall (735 Gulfgate Center Mall) and historic Harrisburg Boulevard, which is lined with unique independent boutiques. When you're done shopping, take in some funky folk art at the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art (2402 Munger St.). This "monumental work of handmade architecture" was built by the late Jefferson Davis McKissack, a former Houston postal worker, in tribute to his favorite fruit (you guessed it) the orange. The 3,000 square foot outdoor monument includes balconies, a wishing well, fountains, and a maze of found objects such as wagon wheels, tractor seats, and mannequins. Definitely an attraction not to miss!