The Heritage Society will host a public lecture and reception on Wednesday, Oct. 22, featuring Port Houston Chief Legal Officer Erik Eriksson, part of a series of events recognizing Houston’s maritime heritage and the city’s first U.S. Navy Fleet Week this fall. The evening begins with a wine-and-cheese reception at 6 p.m. at The Heritage Society Museum’s gallery at 1100 Bagby Street.

“We’re proud to offer an evening that celebrates the history that shaped Houston and to join our city in a pre-celebration of Fleet Week,” said Alison Bell, executive director of The Heritage Society. “Fleet Week will bring sailors and ships to our port and the community together to honor maritime service and the vital role the Port of Houston has played for generations.”

Buffalo Bayou has shaped Houston since before the city’s founding, serving as a vital 52-mile waterway that carried trade goods — from cotton and lumber to livestock — between inland Texas and Galveston Bay. In 1836, the Allen brothers recognized its navigable potential and platted Houston along its banks, setting the stage for steamboats to anchor the young city’s economy. Today, the bayou remains both an ecological treasure and a hub for urban recreation, with trails, parks, and paddle tours honoring its legacy as Houston’s original lifeline.

As commerce outgrew the bayou’s natural depth, local leaders campaigned for a deep-water channel. In 1911 voters approved bonds that created the Harris County Houston Ship Channel Navigation District, now Port Houston, and by 1914 the dredge TEXAS had opened the channel to large ocean-going vessels. Thousands celebrated its inauguration with a 21-gun salute with President Woodrow Wilson’s remotely-fired cannon christening the port, declaring, “Port of Houston; hither the boats of all nations may come and receive hearty welcome.” More than a century later, this same port will host Houston’s first U.S. Navy Fleet Week, bringing ships, sailors, and community celebrations to the docks from Nov. 5–12, 2025.

“We are honored to stand beside the USS Houston monument, a powerful reminder of the courage, sacrifice, and resilience that have long been part of our city’s maritime story,” Bell said. “The monument honors not only the ship and its crew but the ideals they defended — duty, bravery, and the enduring ties between Houston and the sea.”

About the Speaker

Erik Eriksson serves as chief legal officer of Port Houston, overseeing legal and records management functions. Prior to joining Port Houston in 2005, Eriksson held increasingly responsible legal and management positions at a multi-billion dollar, publicly listed holding company.

Eriksson has served the community in numerous leadership roles. He has been a director of the Southampton Civic Club since 2003 and served as its president from 2005 to 2008. He is president of the University Place Association and Super Neighborhood. He serves on the executive committee of the Buffalo Bayou Partnership board of directors and on the boards of the Houston International Seafarers’ Centers and Jazz Houston.

A graduate of Columbia University and Harvard Law School, Eriksson is a member of the bar in Texas, California and New York.

For ticket information, please see https://www.heritagesociety.org/evening-speaker-wine-reception-series. Free parking is available at 212 Dallas Street.