Houston museum moves to ‘pop-up location’ while 1890s mansion undergoes $5 million renovations

Houston Museum

The Houston Museum of Decorative Arts has moved to a “pop-up location” while the museum’s 1890s Victorian mansion on High Street undergoes a $5 million restoration.

Pam Reed, executive director, said the museum is in temporary quarters at the nearby Back Inn Cafe until the renovation is completed.

The new location opened Tuesday after more than 900 boxes of Anna Safley Houston’s fabulous collection were transported down the street.

Hours of operation at the temporary site are noon to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday.

Ms. Reed said the renovation will include necessary improvements to the two-story brick house, which she said is the oldest in the Bluff View arts district.

She said a 1940s addition in disrepair would be dismantled and replaced with a new section that would include a $500,000 elevator to make the facility ADA compliant.

It will also have new exhibition space for the museum’s diverse collection which, in addition to colorful glassware, also includes Tennessee-made furniture, Civil War artifacts, music boxes and other artifacts. art. There will also be new storage spaces and a classroom.

Fundraising efforts continue for this ambitious project, including a $500,000 request from the county commission. Ms. Reed said the group is also seeking help from the city, foundations and grants.

She said the first phase was funded entirely by private donations and grants.

Ms Reed said with the renovation the number of annual visits is expected to increase from 3,000 to 4,000 a year to around 10,000.

She said it was the first time the museum had launched a fundraising appeal in more than 60 years of operation.