A VISIT TO HERMANN PARK

I love Hermann Park, and I always wondered how this place came to be. I read up that this area in the early 1900s was a forest with a saw mill. There was no Medical Center, and Rice University which is across the street just began. The land was owned by a businessman named George H. Hermann. In addition to being a rich businessman, Hermann was active in city government and donated the land to the city to create a park. Why would he give up hundreds of acres of land? At that time (early 1900s), the nation’s cities were growing which was called urbanization, and a mood of progressivism was developing. Progressivism was a reform movement to better the lives of the people in a rapidly industrializing society. This included the temperance (end of alcohol or prohibition) movement, women’s suffrage (right to vote), labor laws, education reform, conservation of nature and more. Although industrialization (growth of factories, technology, and transportation) and urbanization provided jobs, it also caused overcrowded cities, physical abuse, unsanitary conditions, and a dreary life.

The city government wanted to make Houston a more livable place for its citizens, and one way was to create parks.

Hermann Park has a wonderful link- Hermannpark.org– on the history and many things to visit at the park such as the Golf Course which by the way was the first public golf course in the US to be open to all races.

Unfortunately after donating the land to the city, George Hermann died and did not see the development of his gift. However his desire for the park and its impact on the citizens lived on. He stated about the park’s purpose, 

“in consideration of his desire to promote the general welfare of the City of Houston, and the health, comfort, and happiness of the citizens thereof.”