Austin is home to numerous historic places that highlight its rich culture and heritage, from nationally-listed historic sites to key elements of its built environment. These destinations tell an important part of Austin’s story.
Wooldridge Square, a historic downtown park that remains virtually unchanged since its founding, will transport you back in time. Visit the home of an American diplomat who helped launch Texas’ independence movement!
1. Texas State Cemetery
Just blocks from the Capitol lies this 22-acre memorial to legendary Texans: politicians, soldiers, lawyers and other influential people who helped shape our state. Prior to recent changes, only people with current or former membership in either the Texas legislature, Confederate statesmen or elected federal officials could be interred at this cemetery.
The cemetery offers visitors a rare opportunity to step back in time and absorb all that has made Texas great, courageous, tragic and pompous throughout its storied history. Additionally, its artistic offerings such as Elisabet Ney’s recumbent statue of Albert Sidney Johnston by Elisabet Ney and Enrico Cerracchio’s bronze bust of John Wharton by Enrico Cerracchio as well as Pompeo Coppini’s sculptures of Stephen F Austin and Joanna Troutman by Pompeo Coppini are sources of artistic inspiration as well.
2. Texas State Capitol
At its center in Austin lies the Texas State Capitol – a majestic symbol of state history and legislative authority. Serving as an open government facility during legislative sessions, this building allows visitors to see how lawmaking actually occurs within Texas.
Built originally in 1853, the Texas State Capitol was initially constructed from log cabin-style structures with two larger rooms connected by an eight-foot stockade fence erected to guard against Indian raids. When it came time to construct a new one, Detroit architect Elijah E Meyer won a contest and his Renaissance Revival design using Sunset Red granite from Granite Mountain was chosen and carried 50 miles by convicts and migrants who also carried convicts’ sentences as part of their labour force.
3. Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
Bob Bullock Museum serves as a curator of Texas history and culture. Through exhibitions, special events, and educational programs it showcases Texas’ complex past.
Explore Texas history at this three-floor museum! Begin your adventure with “Encounter on the Land”, an introductory narrative that details early inhabitants, then move on to “Building Lone Star Identity”, which documents its development.
Attractions also include an artifacts display from French shipwreck La Belle on the first-floor exhibit gallery and depictions of various people who have made an impactful statement about life in Texas, such as Cowboys, Indians and Mexicans.
4. Moore-Hancock Farmstead
Moore-Hancock Farmstead (41TV875) is an archaeological site which illuminates the lives of freed African American families in Austin during the 1860s. Once owned by John Hancock’s family – an influential judge and legislator from Austin.
After the Civil War ended, slaves in Texas and across Confederate states became free. To commemorate this historic event, June 19 became Juneteenth; an annual holiday commemorating slavery’s end.
Neill-Cochran House Museum boasts one of Austin’s few remaining slave dwellings that is open and available to the public, located in Rosedale neighborhood with charming homes and gorgeous old growth trees.
5. Haskell House
Haskell House stands as one of the town’s most significant historic structures. During the modern civil rights movement, Haskell House became an epicenter for community activism and was the focal point for local activism efforts.
It is a National Folk style home, popular during the early 19th century. Architecturally significant for its early date and innovative use of log construction techniques.
Edward Hopper immortalized the House with a painting, using bold color choices and intricate architectural features to represent its distinctive form. Today, this masterpiece can be found hanging at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Internal to Haskell Library stands a black line, marking its boundary with Canada. Signs throughout the building make clear Haskell is truly international.
6. Sweet Home Baptist Church
Austin offers more than the National Register of Historic Places sites; Austin boasts numerous iconic landmarks. The Bell Smith House showcases folk Victorian architecture while Haskell House exhibits 19th century Creole vernacular design. Furthermore, France recognized Texas as an independent republic through their 1840 French Legation building.
Visit Downs Field, former home to the Austin Black Senators of the Negro League during its early days in the 20th century and where baseball greats such as Willie Wells and Satchel Paige played baseball here. Now home of Huston-Tillotson University Rams baseball team, Downs Field makes an ideal place for viewing games or concerts alike!
