Blue
in Bayou City

Blue Tiles to Find Your Way

In the 1920s, Houston began to emerge as the nation’s next metropolis. Keeping pace with that growth, craftsmen transformed the mundane into the beautiful by creating street signs and curb markers from small white and blue tiles. Today, approximately 4,000 of these signs remain and offer sprinkles of the past found across the city to remind us how far we’ve come.

In the last few years, organizations like the Blue Tile Project and I Heart Houston have been working to restore this iconic piece of Houston history. In 2017, Eric Maier began I Heart Houston to create and install custom blue tile sets to replace what has been sacrificed to the pace of progress. Maier is honored to play a role in restoring this unique element of Houston’s history. “These tile sets are all hand assembled and installed by hand, and while none are absolutely perfect, they are unique and have character.”

Just like Houston.

Artful Reminders of Houston’s Beauty

“Be Someone” Graffiti Tag

Houston has long been a canvas and inspiration for artists. Spanning Interstate 45 is the “Be Someone” graffiti boldly sprayed on a bridge. It is a call to action and a reminder of our purpose. The original design was a bright, eye-catching blue, and over the years, it has taken on a life of its own.

The artist, who maintains their anonymity, shared in an interview that their "Be Someone" message should inspire people to become their most authentic self. "Because once you find you, you can spread as much of you to the world as you can. That's how I do it," the artist told The Signal, the UH-Clear Lake student newspaper.

“Houston” Mural

Acclaimed Houston street artist GONZO247 is known for painting vibrant pieces that capture the urgent vitality of the city. His vivid blue “Houston” mural in East Downtown, or EaDo to the locals, is a draw for Houstonians and visitors looking for that picture-perfect moment.

City Standard Blue

In 1915, the City of Houston leaders created the flag that still holds a place of honor in the city’s buildings. And it may be one of the first official uses of the color blue for the City of Houston. The city seal was created in 1840, four years after the city’s founding. The flag is light blue with the city seal that includes a locomotive and a plow to pay tribute to the tools that helped build the city.

Nature Calls for Blue

For nature lovers, the Eastern bluebird loves to call Houston home year-round. The bright blue of the male bird gives birds their name and the eggs laid by the female are also a beautiful shade of light blue.

The ‘OG’ Sports Team

Long before the Cougars and Astros took the field, the Houston Buffaloes, or Buffs, were the big players in town as the city’s minor league baseball team. Founded in 1888, they eventually were replaced by the Colt .45s in 1962, and soon after that, the Astros staked their claim. The original team jerseys were gray or white with blue lettering. In later years, the team wore blue caps with a white “H” on the front, and in 1961, their jerseys featured light blue lettering.  

Icons of City Safety

Founded in 1841, the Houston Police Department strived to keep pace with the city’s growth. And while the officers’ original uniforms had a more “homespun feel,” in the 1940s they transitioned to navy blue wool uniforms – not ideal for patrolling the streets of a hot bayou city. Over the decades cooler heads prevailed, and the classic sky blue, short sleeve uniforms were adopted in the 1960s.

Senior Officer and Houston Police Museum Director Johanna Abad explained these uniforms were very welcoming and easily identifiable from a community service perspective. Leaning into the blue, the city also adopted the sky-blue color for its vehicles in the late 1960s. And in 1970, the force’s first three helicopters were also light blue. In the late 1980s, the department also had the blue Chevrolet Caprices for street patrols, which the officers fondly called Shamu, for its oversized and very round presence.

Abad, who has been with the department for 26 years, said that the officers still appreciate the vintage uniforms. When there are ceremonies or opportunities to honor their fellow officers while wearing the sky-blue uniforms, it is much appreciated. “When we see these teams wearing the blue, it hits close to home for us.”

Reading in Blue

Even on the UH campus, which is decked out in the classic red and white, visitors can find a bit of blue at its center. In the MD Anderson Memorial Library, located in the heart of campus, is the Blue Wing. The eight-story limestone tower was added to the library in the 1960s. It was built behind the original building, and two smaller, three-story structures were built on either side for storage. The tops of the additions are decorated with the names of great thinkers, including da Vinci, Moses, Galileo, Franklin, Tolstoy and Freud. Known as a quieter part of the library, the Blue Wing is an excellent place to study, read in peace and contemplate all the ways blue surrounds us.