Beginning in 1899 and continuing for 16 years, Houston had an event in the same vein as New Orleans’ Mardi Gras. Parades, balls, college football games, and a carnival midway highlighted the fall season NoTsuOh festivities. Downtown buildings were bedecked with electric lights, people sported outrageous costumes, horse-drawn buggies and then automobiles were smothered in flowers.
Backward spelling was part of the event’s charm. NoTsuOh, for example, is Houston spelled backward. King Nottoc (Cotton) oversaw the festivities and his identity was revealed when the royal party arrived by barge at the foot of Main Street. Top Houston businessmen and leaders such as Jesse Jones, Edgar O. Lovett, and John Henry Kirby served as King.
NoTsuOh was put on hold after the great 1915 Carnival due to the looming spectre of WW I. But for those 16 years, NoTsuOh was the Bayou City’s largest event of the year.
The Heritage Society continued the tradition in 2018 with Welcome Wilson, Sr. as King Nottoc and Catherine C. Brock as Queen Ailongam. Join us as we celebrate NoTsuOh 2020 with Duke Ensell as King Nottoc and C. C. Ensell as Queen Ailongam
Beginning in 1899 and continuing for 16 years, Houston had an event in the same vein as New Orleans’ Mardi Gras. Parades, balls, college football games, and a carnival midway highlighted the fall season NoTsuOh festivities. Downtown buildings were bedecked with electric lights, people sported outrageous costumes, horse-drawn buggies and then automobiles were smothered in flowers.
Backward spelling was part of the event’s charm. NoTsuOh, for example, is Houston spelled backward. King Nottoc (Cotton) oversaw the festivities and his identity was revealed when the royal party arrived by barge at the foot of Main Street. Top Houston businessmen and leaders such as Jesse Jones, Edgar O. Lovett, and John Henry Kirby served as King.
NoTsuOh was put on hold after the great 1915 Carnival due to the looming spectre of WW I. But for those 16 years, NoTsuOh was the Bayou City’s largest event of the year.
The Heritage Society continued the tradition in 2018 with Welcome Wilson, Sr. as King Nottoc and Catherine C. Brock as Queen Ailongam. Join us as we celebrate NoTsuOh 2020 with Duke Ensell as King Nottoc and C. C. Ensell as Queen Ailongam
Beginning in 1899 and continuing for 16 years, Houston had an event in the same vein as New Orleans’ Mardi Gras. Parades, balls, college football games, and a carnival midway highlighted the fall season NoTsuOh festivities. Downtown buildings were bedecked with electric lights, people sported outrageous costumes, horse-drawn buggies and then automobiles were smothered in flowers.
Backward spelling was part of the event’s charm. NoTsuOh, for example, is Houston spelled backward. King Nottoc (Cotton) oversaw the festivities and his identity was revealed when the royal party arrived by barge at the foot of Main Street. Top Houston businessmen and leaders such as Jesse Jones, Edgar O. Lovett, and John Henry Kirby served as King.
NoTsuOh was put on hold after the great 1915 Carnival due to the looming spectre of WW I. But for those 16 years, NoTsuOh was the Bayou City’s largest event of the year.
The Heritage Society continued the tradition in 2018 with Welcome Wilson, Sr. as King Nottoc and Catherine C. Brock as Queen Ailongam. Join us as we celebrate NoTsuOh 2020 with Duke Ensell as King Nottoc and C. C. Ensell as Queen Ailongam