Astrodome
reIMAGINEd
A building that changed sports, architecture and Houston’s idea of itself—and the unfinished story of what happens to it next.
Saving Houston’s Astrodome Legacy
Look online at posts about Houston’s Eighth Wonder of the World and you’ll find, “TEAR IT DOWN,” or “WE ALREADY VOTED TO TEAR IT DOWN,” or “IT’S AN EYESORE,” or “BLOW IT UP AND…
Read the storyMore than a building.
The Astrodome is part engineering marvel, part memory bank and part unresolved civic question. Through archival history, community recollection, public-cost reporting and new design ideas, this series follows the Dome from the moment Houston received its keys to the decisions that will determine its future.
The wonder Houston built
Before it became a preservation question, the Astrodome was a declaration of Houston ambition—and a place where the impossible became ordinary.
Keys to Houston’s Astrodome: Harris County Launches a Stadium Legacy
On March 15, 1965, Harris County handed over the keys to the world’s first fully climate-controlled domed stadium to Roy Hofheinz, president of…
Read the storyAstrodome Opening Night: The Glitz, the Game, and Houston’s Big Moment (1965)
On April 9, 1965, Houston didn’t just open a stadium—it launched a revolution. The Astrodome, dubbed the Eighth Wonder of the World, swung…
Read the storyRained-in at the Dome
When the Astrodome opened in 1965 rain-outs became a thing of the past for Houston baseball. As a result, the rain check basically…
Read the storyWhat do we owe a landmark?
The Dome’s future is a debate about public memory, public money and whether Houston can carry its history into a changing city.
Saving Houston’s Astrodome Legacy
Look online at posts about Houston’s Eighth Wonder of the World and you’ll find, “TEAR IT DOWN,” or “WE ALREADY VOTED TO TEAR…
Read the storyHarris County Astrodome Cost Estimates: $753 Million to Renovate vs. $55 Million to Demolish
Harris County faces a major decision for the historic Astrodome: renovate the iconic stadium for $753 million to restore basic operations, or demolish…
Read the storyImagining the next act
Students, civic leaders and the institutions surrounding NRG Park are testing what preservation, reinvention and a new Houston landmark district could become.
The Eighth Wonder’s Next Act: How UH Architecture Students are Reimagining the Astrodome
In the Fall 2025 DOMEafterDOME capstone project, nineteen University of Houston architecture students reimagined the historic Astrodome not as a stagnant political relic,…
Read the storyHow the Rodeo’s Multi-Million Dollar Shift Signals a Turning Point for NRG Park and (possibly) the Astrodome
NRG Park's Future: How the Rodeo's $300 Million Expansion Could Reshape Houston
Read the storyA New Era for the Houston Texans: Transitioning Beyond NRG Park
The Houston Texans are venturing beyond NRG Park for a historic $34 billion expansion. In a landmark unanimous vote, Harris County approved the…
Read the storyWhat does the Astrodome mean to you?
Houston’s history lives in the memories of the people who experienced it. Share a Dome memory, photograph or perspective that could help deepen this continuing series.