The Park is a place for meditation, remembrance, reflection and hope. It is also a space for families to reconnect with nature and each other.
Almost a century ago, the land that is now Memorial Park was a teeming Army base called Camp Logan. Now it’s Houston’s green heart.
History
Before 1917 the land that is Memorial Park was a homestead and agricultural area. Then the Selective Service Act was passed and millions of young men enlisted in the war effort. The soldiers trained at Camp Logan, a huge National Guard training site covering more than 7600 acres along Buffalo Bayou.
After the war, the Park was developed to provide recreational and educational opportunities for Houstonians. Today, the park has many features including a lake, picnic shelters, the Bear Hollow Wildlife Trail, the nationally renowned Seymour Lieberman Exer-trail and more. It also supplies a natural habitat for native plant and animal species. Memorial Park is a place that captures the essence of remembrance and reverence. It is a serene oasis in the middle of the city that inspires and educates. Visit us to discover this historic park and its story.
Tribute in Light
Originally unveiled six months after 9/11 in March 2002, the Tribute in Light is a stunning light display that takes place every year from dusk to dawn on September 11. The public art installation features two beams of sky blue lights that resemble the Twin Towers and can be seen up to four miles away on a clear night.
Each year, the event expands as the city encourages building owners to participate by lighting their facades and rooftops in a shade called “memorial blue,” which is reminiscent of the sky that was reportedly cloudless on the morning of September 11, 2001. 88 7,000-watt xenon light bulbs are positioned in two squares that mirror the shape of the Twin Towers and can be seen from all over the city.
The light display is most prominent from Manhattan, but you can also see it from Washington Square and Union Square parks in Manhattan, Gantry Plaza State Park in Queens, Brooklyn Bridge Park and the Staten Island Ferry Terminal. The memorial is also visible from parts of New Jersey, and on a clear night can be seen as far north as Rockland County and as south as Trenton, according to the museum.
Survivor Tree
The Survivor Tree is an emblem of hope and resilience for many who visit the memorial park. Since 2013, the Memorial has distributed seedlings from this Callery pear to communities that have endured tragedy in recent years.
During our 9/11 Ground Zero Walking Tour, visitors often stop to gaze up at the Survivor Tree’s gnarled roots and smooth new limbs. Its scars and twisted trunk paired with its vitality reminds us that despite the devastation of 9/11, there is hope.
After the 2001 attacks, this tree was pulled from the rubble of the World Trade Center and brought to Arthur Ross Nursery in the Bronx to be re-rooted and nurtured. Now, each year, the Survivor Tree’s seeds are harvested and distributed to three communities that have experienced tragedy. Thousands of Survivor Tree clones now grow in yards, parks, schools and even the White House lawn. It’s also possible to plant your own. To learn how, visit this link.
Bald Eagle Statue
A bronze statue of the national bird graces this veterans memorial. This eagle is a majestic symbol of power, liberty and strength. It is cast in quality designer resin and hand painted with amazing detail. With a wingspan of over 6 feet and fierce talons, this eagle will add a touch of patriotism to your garden or home.
Inside each victory pavilion is a sculptural canopy called a baldacchino that features four eagles holding laurel victory wreaths, an ancient Greek symbol of victory dating back to the time of Alexander the Great. The eagles symbolize American victory in the Atlantic and Pacific theaters of World War II.
Below each eagle are inscribed the names of 36 states, minus Alaska and Hawaii, who entered the Union at the end of World War II. The top of the memorial is capped by a cornice decorated with the national flags and palmetto leaves. It is also inscribed with the words “Kilroy was here”, a cryptic phrase that became a universal sign that soldiers had passed through an area.