America's Space City - Houston

Houston is the most populous city in the state ofThe city of Houston is also home to the Texas
Texas, and the 4th most populous in the UnitedMedical Center (which is the world's largest
States over all. As of 2006, Houston had anconcentration of health research and care
estimated population of 2,144,491, with more thaninstitutions), the Port of Houston (which is the
5.5 million people living in the Houston-Sugarbusiest port in the United States in terms of
Land-Baytown metropolitan area, the 6th mostinternational cargo tonnage, and the second
populous metropolitan area in the United States.busiest in terms of over all tonnage), and more
Houston is perhaps most famous internationallyFortune 500 corporations' headquarters than any
for being home to NASA's Lyndon B. Johnsoncity save for New York.
Space Center, which contains the Mission ControlVisitors to Houston will be sure to want to see
Center (MCC-H), the NASA control center thatthe Houston Museum District (known informally as
coordinates and monitors all US manned spacesimply "The Museum District"). This area is home
missions, including the Space Shuttle and activitiesto at least 16 different museums, including the
aboard the International Space Station. On displayByzantine Fresco Chapel Museum (containing the
at the Johnson Space Center is a near completeonly intact Byzantine frescoes in the Western
Saturn V moon rocket, and an Apollohemisphere), the Chldren's Museum of Houston,
Command-Service Module (CSM), both of whichthe Contemporary Arts Museum, the Houston
were originally prepared for Apollo missions whichMuseum of Natural Science, and the Holocaust
were cancelled. It is because of the presence ofMuseum Houston. Also in the Museum District are
the Johnson Space Center, as well as the city'sseveral parks, Houston Zoo (which contains 4,500
other aerospace connections, that Houston getsanimals from over 900 species), and the Miller
its nickname: "Space City".Outdoor Theatre.