Postcards from the Rienzi Museum

I had a few hours to spare on a Saturday afternoon in Houston and was curious on what I could do. I’m still in the process of exploring the city and I have to say, its a lot harder exploring Houston than it was exploring New York. Having to drive everywhere and build in lengthy commute time really prevented me from scheduling more activities during a day. I’ve learned to build a day’s worth of things to do all based on the neighborhood that I plan to hang out in. Earlier this day, I ate at the delicious Southern restaurant, Backstreet Cafe, and then decided to head to the Rienzi Museum afterwards. The Rienzi is part of the Houston Museum of Fine Arts and located near Buffalo Bayou in the River Oaks district. It’s only a 3 minute drive from Backstreet Cafe so it was the perfect pair. The Museum can only be seen on a docent led tour so make sure to call ahead (no they don’t have online booking) and make a reservation for a tour. Tours are held on the hour Wednesday to Saturday from 10am to 3pm and on Sundays on the hour from 1pm to 4pm. Visiting the Gardens surrounding the Museum is free, however, and doesn’t require a tour. Tickets are only $10 and the experience lasts a little over an hour. I love tours (you get to learn so much more instead of just wandering around aimlessly) so I was really looking forward to seeing the Rienzi. Its located inside a River Oaks mansion and is stocked to the brim with antiques and history. You’ll be able to tell from my pictures below, but the Rienzi is truly a beautiful place.

Mr. Masterson spent extensive time in London while serving in the U.S military. As a result, a lot of the home’s design and artwork is English inspired. The library below is reflective of a typical wealthy British family library with its central portrait and surrounding bookshelves.

The Masterson family (who are the previous owners of the Rienzi before it became a museum) designated a room in their house to have Mexican influence and art. Mrs. Masterson had lived in Mexico City for several years before marrying Mr. Masterson and moving to Texas. Mexico City remained a large part of her life and she wanted it reflected in her home. The design of the room below (which was their bar area where they entertained guests before dinner) included Mexican inspired tile design and artwork.

The original Masterson home did not include this dark green and white tiled walkway (below)and the rooms located off of it. As the family grew in size (and wealth) they added it on as an extension to their home. The family loved entertaining and the extension allowed them to build a ballroom (seen above).

The white marble statue below was part of the house before the Mastersons purchased it. They chose to keep it in the entry foyer even after becoming its new owners.

If you’re visiting Houston anytime soon, I recommend making a short stop at the Rienzi! It’s the perfect place to spend a sunny afternoon.