A Guide To The Orange Show, Houston

Things to do / Highlights

McKissack used a plethora of materials to create this art space, including statuettes, tractor seats, wagon wheels, tiles, and gears. Everything was carefully selected and painted, thus making it a wondrous work of art. Currently, it features many upper patios, stunning exhibits, a museum, a pond, a wishing well, an oasis, and a gift shop connected in a maze-like structure. After the postman’s demise in 1980, the city’s art patron — Marilyn Oshman, created a non-profit organization to preserve this area, together with other Houston’s outsider architecture, such as the Beer Can House in Rice Military.

Take a tour of the site

This venue displays not only McKissack’s artistic ideas but also his philosophical and scientific notions. Above the wall surrounding the pond is a mobile, portraying the moon going around the earth and the earth around the moon. The bright and beautiful color combinations across the Show, including the walls of antique wheels, the tractor seats, and a tile frame, are picture-worthy. You’ll also explore the mind-blowing artworks in the air-conditioned exhibition hall, the wishing well and the fountain behind the museum, and much more. The site offers a guided tour every Saturday and Sunday morning.

Explore the museum

The main educational center is the museum on site, where you’ll discover relics depicting McKissack’s orange virtues and the importance of persistence and hard work. Most of the museum’s items were tools he used for various physical tasks as a child.

Attend educational and fun programs

As part of the McKissack’s wishes, The Orange Show foundation organized many programs. The majority of them focuses on children’s creativity. Some of these events include storytelling, kids’ concerts, and puppet shows. Also, attend one of the hands-on workshops with your toddlers, guided by talented artists. These lessons include mask-making class, dancing class, envelope decoration, and making art and jewelry from junk pieces. There’s also a playground on site.

Be a part of the Art Car Parade

This parade occurs every year in April and highlights vehicles excessively decorated by organizations, families, youth groups, students, artists, and everyone else who loves creativity. The event covers the entire downtown Houston and occupies the whole weekend together with other attached events. It’s the world’s largest of its kind event and attracts media attention and over 200,000 visitors worldwide.

Eyeopener Tour

The Orange Show also highlights documentaries about local visionary artists and environments in its library and archives. The program was established in 1986 with volunteers, staff, and board members, collecting materials from artistic creations around Houston. Since the city has many of these sites, the initiative was to preserve and recognize their significance long after the creators are gone. You can check out this information in the form of interviews, videotapes, and photographs and learn more about the metropolis’s unknown cultural assets.

Travel tips

Parking

If you’re going in your private vehicle, there is no parking space within the venue. Thankfully, you can find a lot of free parking spaces in the calm neighborhood. However, be careful not to block the residential building’s driveways.

Private event

The Orange Show doesn’t only offer tours but also private rentals. If you’re searching for a unique spot to celebrate your birthday, special events, kid’s party, or weddings, this center for visionary arts got you covered. Check out their website for more information.

Visit the nearby Smither Park

After exploring the Orange Show, visitors love checking out Smither Park, and you will too. It’s located close to the center, and it’s covered with staggering mosaics. You’ll find a 400-foot (121.9-meter) memory wall, where artists regularly hang their art walls, a meditation garden, a pavilion, and more.

Tours

Due to the pandemic, tours to the Show are limited to eight individuals at a time, and all must wear face masks. Each trip lasts 30 minutes.

How to get there

By Uber and Lyft

The monument may be hard to locate, especially for new visitors. The best way to get to this place is by using Uber or Lyft ride-sharing services.

By private or rented car

If you’re coming with a group, we recommend taking a private car, since parking is not an issue. There are a lot of car rental services in the city, available at affordable prices. For detailed directions, check the official website.

How to get tickets

Across the streets from the monument, you’ll find offices selling tickets to the Orange Show. Each ticket costs 5 USD, and it’s free for kids under the age of 12. Prices and hours for workshops, concerts, field trips, and group tours differ. You can check their website for more information on these offerings.

Orange Show information

Orange Show

Address: 2401 Munger St, Houston, TX 77023, United States

Opening hours: Sat - Sun: 9am - 12pm (closed from Mon - Fri)

Official website: Orange Show

Department of tourism: Visit Houston

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