... THE ROTHKO CHAPEL IN HOUSTON IS PART CHAPEL, part modern art piece. Opened in 1971, the nondenominational building is named after Latvian American abstract painter Mark Rothko. While artist Barnett Newman’s Broken Obelisk, a 25-foot structure dedicated to Martin Luther King Jr., stands outside, the chapel’s exterior is otherwise simple. Inside, the chapel contains 14 of Rothko’s large, dark, textured paintings, which create a solemn environment. “When you walk in, it really does the trick,” Wilson says. “It’s peaceful and contemplative—and people respect it as much as they would any other chapel.” With nearly 100,000 visitors each year, the Rothko maintains an expansive collection of sacred texts, ranging from the Bible to the Quran to the Bhagavad Gita, the core text of Hinduism.

3900 Yupon St., Houston. 713-524-9839; rothkochapel.org ...