Museum of Fine Arts | Bayou Bend Collection and Gardens

Bayou Bend: A Unique Collection of Americana

Bayou Bend, the magnificent home of Miss Ima Hogg, is the extraordinary legacy of a remarkable woman. Best known for her superb collection of American decorative arts, Miss Hogg was also largely responsible for Bayou Bend's innovative architecture and breathtaking gardens.

The house, designed by prominent architect John F. Staub, was built between 1927 and 1928 for Miss Hogg and her brothers, William C. and Michael Hogg. Covered in towering trees and thick undergrowth, the site was, in Miss Hogg's words, "nothing but a dense thicket." Undaunted, she created a series of gracious and beautiful gardens that were intended as outdoor rooms for living and entertaining, not just views to be admired from within the house. But Miss Hogg was also appreciative of the wilder side of nature, and she always intended that the surrounding woodlands remain more or less natural, as they are today. In 1957 Miss Hogg donated her home and her collection to the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Bayou Bend opened to the public in 1966 and stands as one of Houston's cultural treasures. The collection at Bayou Bend presently contains several thousand objects installed in some 28 period room settings that showcase American decorative arts from 1620 through 1870.