Moving to the Houston area comes with perks, like no state income tax. It also comes with serious bragging rights.
From the first domed stadium to the first artificial heart, Houston has done some things before anyone else on the planet. Here are a few firsts and world records to share at your next neighborhood cookout, plus one famous "first" that is not quite what you think.
Quick answer: Houston is home to the world's first domed, air-conditioned indoor stadium (the Astrodome, 1965), the world's first total artificial heart implant (1969), the mission control center for Apollo 11, and the Texas Medical Center, the largest medical complex in the world.
1. The World's First Domed Stadium
The Astrodome opened on April 9, 1965, as the world's first domed, air-conditioned indoor stadium. It was nicknamed the "Eighth Wonder of the World" and was home to the Houston Astros for more than three decades.
2. The World's First Artificial Heart
On April 4, 1969, Dr. Denton A. Cooley performed the world's first total artificial heart implant at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital in Houston. The patient lived 46 hours with the artificial heart until he received a human heart.
3. America's First Successful Heart Transplant
One year earlier, in 1968, Dr. Cooley performed the first successful human heart transplant in the United States. He founded the Texas Heart Institute in 1962.
4. Mission Control for the Moon Landing
Apollo 11, which put the first humans on the moon on July 20, 1969, was controlled from NASA's Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston, now the Johnson Space Center. The center oversaw the planning, design, training, and execution of the Apollo moon missions.
5. The World's Largest Medical Complex
The Texas Medical Center, organized in 1945, is the largest comprehensive medical complex in the world, with about 10 million patient visits a year. It is also home to the world's largest children's hospital, Texas Children's Hospital, and the world's largest cancer hospital, MD Anderson Cancer Center.
Myth Buster: Was "Houston" the First Word Spoken From the Moon?
You have probably heard this one, and it is close, but not quite. After the lunar module landed, Neil Armstrong famously said, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed." But PolitiFact found that words from a technical checklist were spoken before that line, so "Houston" was not technically the first word spoken from the moon.
It was, however, the first word of Armstrong's famous landing message. Still pretty good bragging rights.
Live Close to the History
Living in the Houston area means this history is part of your hometown story. (Want local history too? See 10 Fun Facts About Fort Bend County.)
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Astrodome the first domed stadium? Yes. When it opened on April 9, 1965, the Astrodome was the world's first domed, air-conditioned indoor stadium.
Where was the first artificial heart implanted? In Houston. Dr. Denton Cooley performed the world's first total artificial heart implant at St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital on April 4, 1969.
Was "Houston" really the first word spoken on the moon? Not technically. PolitiFact found that technical checklist words were spoken first. "Houston" was the first word of Neil Armstrong's famous message, "Houston, Tranquility Base here. The Eagle has landed."
What is the largest medical center in the world? The Texas Medical Center in Houston, the largest comprehensive medical complex in the world.
Make Houston Your Hometown
A city with this much history deserves a home base to match. Ryan Adams and The Adams Group TX help families find their place in the Houston area, from Fort Bend County to the Inner Loop. Call us at (832) 308-7633 or visit us at 5822 Sienna Parkway, Suite 500, Missouri City, TX 77459.
