Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Decorative arts museum in River Oaks, Houston, United States.
Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens is a decorative arts museum located in River Oaks, Houston, displaying about 2,500 objects across 28 rooms within a 1928 mansion. The property includes extensive gardens that surround the residence and showcase landscape design alongside the indoor collections.
Philanthropist Ima Hogg began collecting American decorative arts in the 1920s and donated her residence to the Museum of Fine Arts Houston in 1957. This act transformed the mansion and its contents into a permanent institution dedicated to preserving early American design.
The collection features furniture, ceramics, metals, textiles, and paintings created or used across America from 1620 to 1876. These pieces reflect the craftsmanship and artistic traditions of early American life.
The site spans about 14 acres with gardens maintained using organic practices, and tours are offered Wednesday through Sunday. Visiting early in the day provides a more comfortable experience for viewing both the gardens and interior rooms without heavy crowds.
The property contains the Kitty King Powell Library and Study Center, a specialized research library with extensive materials about early American decorative arts and craftwork techniques. This facility allows scholars and researchers to study the history behind the objects on display throughout the house.
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