Top 10 Austin Historical Attractions
Austin is a city teeming with history! As the capital of Texas, Austin is home to many historical legislative buildings and documents that set it apart from the rest of the state. In fact, Texas’ capitol building in Austin was deemed one of the countries’ most distinguished. Check out these and other Austin historical sites and discover Texas’ role in forging the frontier, the facts of the Battle of the Republic of Texas, and information about the outlaws and brave soldiers who made this land their home.
- State Capitol Building
- O. Henry Museum
- Texas State Cemetery
- Old Bakery and Emporium
- Moonlight Towers
- The French Legation Museum
- Historic Walking Tours
- Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
- Austin History Center
- Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue
The Texas State Capitol Building is an Austin historical site worth visiting! It is on the National Register for Historic Places and is also a National Landmark. The visitor’s center houses many exhibits designed to educate the public on Texas’ role in United States history. Built in the Renaissance Revival architectural style, the Capitol Building’s well-designed arches and domed edifices make this state capitol among the most impressive in the country. Fun fact: the Texas State Capitol Building measures 15 feet higher than the nation’s capitol building in Washington, D.C.! To check out the Texas State Capitol visitor information – an impressive Austin historical site – see: www.TSPB.State.tx.us.
19th century short-story writer O. Henry – whose real name was William Sydney Porter – moved to Austin in 1884 and lived in a small Queen-Anne style cottage for a number of years while writing. This little house made it on the National Register of Historic Places and has been converted into a museum to honor the writer who made Austin his home. In addition to historical documents, artifacts, and information – the O. Henry Museum also offers writing programs and an annual O. Henry “Pun-Off” – a hysterical punning competition – which takes place in May. For information about the O. Henry Museum – a popular Austin historical site – please visit: www.ci.Austin.tx.us. For the O. Henry Pun-Off please see: www.PunPunPun.com.
The Texas State Cemetery is the honored resting place of Texas’ politicians, authors, Revolutionary War and Republic of Texas veterans. Meander down the aisles and glance at the names of Texas’ most prominent dead. A great spot for genealogists and historians to explore! If you plan ahead you can get a guided tour of the grounds. The Texas State Cemetery also proudly showcases a monument built to memorialize brave Texans who died during the 9/11 attacks and during Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. This is a must see. For more information about visiting the Texas State Cemetery see: www.Cemetery.State.tx.us.
Austin’s Old Bakery and Emporium is among the older Austin historical attractions. Built in 1876, the Old Bakery and Emporium is a registered National Landmark that has seen the dawning of two centuries. This historical site has a unique story: the building – close to being condemned – was saved by Austin organizations and put to several different uses. The last – a market for Austin senior citizens to sell their handcrafts. So visit the Old Bakery and Emporium, learn about its valuable history and meet some of the senior citizens who help to keep it thriving today! For more information see: www.ci.Austin.tx.us/Parks/.
In the 1880s and 1890s, moonlight towers were high-tech ways to illuminate city blocks with carbon arc lights. Standing at 165 feet tall, these towers cast light over several city blocks at once. Over time, moonlight towers were replaced with more efficient, cost-effective incandescent lighting. Austin is the only city in the world that still operates moonlight towers. Collectively, they are listed on the National Register for Historic Places. There are only 17 – of the original 31 – towers left. You will find clusters of moonlight towers around the capitol building, but generally they are spread out all over the city. For a map of moonlight tower locations – a most unique of Austin historical sites – visit: Google Map.
Back when Texas was still a republic, this historic mansion served as a colonial outpost for a French representative – Dubois de Saligny. The Frenchman refused to live like the locals, and so had this mansion built and decorated with all of the finery of France – though it is rumored that he never actually lived there. The French Legation Museum preserves the mansion in Dubois’ era and boasts one of the largest collections of antique French cookware in America. To learn more about Austin historical sites and early Texan ties to the French government visit: www.FrenchLegationMuseum.org.
Check out the Bremond Block! This Austin historic district features eleven houses built between the years 1850-1910. If you like architecture and history then you are in luck! These mammoth structures were built – mostly – by the wealthy Bremond family. You can join a guided tour organized by the Austin Convention & Visitor’s Bureau and learn more about these beautiful architectural masterpieces. These well-preserved Victorian castles are among the elite of Austin historical sites.
Other walking tours include the historic neighborhoods of Congress Avenue and 6th street. 6th Street is the world-famous Austin city street that put the Austin music scene on the map! You will find the Old Bakery and Emporium in this area, as well as St. Mary’s Cathedral and the Driskell Hotel – all historic landmarks. For more information about Austin Historic Walking Tours please visit: www.AustinTexas.org
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is a premier Austin historical attraction. Once named “the story of Texas” – this museum unfolds like a story. Divided up by theme, the information is interesting and entertaining. This is a must-see stop for Texas’ history buffs! Don’t miss the “Oil Tank Theater” – a documentary narrated by Texas’ own Walter Cronkite. After visiting all the exhibits, stop into the IMAX Theater for “Texas: The Big Picture” – a documentary about the Lone Star State and how it came to be. For more information about the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum – the most comprehensive Austin historical site – see: www.TheStoryofTexas.com.
The Austin History Center is an extension of the Austin Public Library and archives everything! Peruse their photo collection, their archive of newspapers and newspaper clippings, maps, or recordings. Immerse yourself in the local history that the folks at the Austin History Center have been so diligent to preserve. The Center closely documents the goings-on of Austin and the larger Travis County. So, sit back and scan a clipping of an obituary, or a memorable fire and learn about Austin from an historian’s point of view. One of the best Austin historical sites! To learn more go to: www.ci.Austin.tx.us.
The legendary guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan is memorialized by a statue near Lady Bird Lake in Austin at Auditorium Shores, the site of many of his performances. The statue was erected in 1994 by the city of Austin as a tribute to this important musician. Vaughan, who was killed in a helicopter crash in 1990, was an Austin native. Many music-lovers pilgrimage to Lady Bird Lake to view his statue every year making this an important Austin historical attraction. You can pay your respects to this music great by visiting his statue at the intersection of Riverside Drive and South First Street.