Points of Interest
Austin Convention Center (E26) 505 E. Cesar Chavez, 476-5461 and 478-0098. We're partial to SXSW (hosted here in March), but this 176,000 sq. ft. welcome wagon also hosts Semicon Southwest and over 50 other trade shows and meets per year. It houses intimate spaces for meetings of 10 as well as exhibit halls with capacities over 4,000.
Bluebonnet Plaza (E16) Third & Neches. The site of the Old Bluebonnet Marketplace on Third & Neches was supposed to become a downtown loft project, but was eventually sold to the city. The abandoned site will be paved over with a bigger convention center if the city's expansion plans are approved.
Dewitt C. Greer Building (N66) 125 E. 11th, 305-9501. Department of Transportation Administrative Offices.
JP Schneider Bldg. (W82) 400 W. Second.
New AMOA Site (W79) Second & Guadalupe. Currently still a free zone for car-parkers, but in five years — if all goes well — this will be 86,000 sq. ft. of art museum, a downtown facility for the Austin Museum of Art, with galleries, offices, a store, and more.
Norwood Tower (N45) 114 W. Seventh, 476-8415. Jean-Luc's is downstairs.
One American Center (C67) 600 Congress, 320-7100.
Penick-Allison Tennis Center (E85) 1701 Trinity, 471-1025; 474-0888 to reserve a court. These slick, well-appointed courts are home to UT Tennis. Check out the action from the bleachers or reserve your own. (Courts are open only to UT Students with valid IDs and current members of the UT Division of Recreational Sports.)
State Comptroller of Public Affairs (C64) 111 W. Sixth, 463-4070.
Stratford Amos Building (W71) 500 W. Sixth.
Texas Law Center (N100) 1414 Colorado, 463-1463, x2712. Home of the state Supreme Court, the Texas Law Center offers tours M-F.
Texas Press Association (W45) 718 W. Fifth, 477-6755.
Tips Warehouse (W86) Second & Colorado. This pre-Depression era brick building at 200 Colorado is owned by Bonner Carrington Corporation, which developed the Children's Museum, Sullivan's, and the Bitter End. Set to be destroyed when John Wooley's residential development is built on the site in conjunction with a city-owned residential project across the street.
Tom C Clark Building (N99) 14th & Colorado, 463-1722.
U.S. District Courthouse (N70) 200 W. Eighth, 916-5896.
University of Texas Collections Deposit Library (E88) MLK & Red River, 495-4694. A storage bunker for the UT Library System and final resting place for low-circulation books. http://www.lib.utexas.edu
University of Texas Employment Center (E89) MLK & Red River, 471-3656. http://www.utexas.edu/admin/ohr/empl/
University of Texas Freshman Admissions Center (E89) MLK & Red River, 475-7440. http://www.utexas.edu
UT School of Nursing (E86) 1700 Red River, 471-7311.
Waterloo Compound (E47) Third & Red River. A collection of small area businesses located within a historic district.
William P. Clements Jr. State Building (N123) 300 W. 15th, 495-9313.
God & Religion
Armenian Church of America/St. Elias East Orthodox/Saint John the Forerunner (N) 408 E. 11th, 476-2314. This historic building is the center of religious and cultural activity for the Eastern Orthodox and Armenian communities.
Central Christian Church (N) 1110 Guadalupe, 476-6941. One of the city's first church buildings, built in 1898.
First United Methodist Church (N) 1201 Lavaca, 478-5684. Gigantic domed house of worship west of the Capitol. http://www.fumcaustin.org
Saint Mary's Cathedral (N) 910 San Jacinto, 476-6182. The church, dedicated in 1884, is the seat of the Diocese of Austin and the city's oldest Catholic church.
St. David's Episopal (N) 304 E. Seventh, 476-6941. Established in 1853, St. David's says they are the oldest Episopal church west of the Mississippi. http://www.io.com/st_david
Park/Historic
Abbey Mansion (N75) 801 Rio Grande, 477-6685. Old Victorian house available for wedding receptions and other special occasions.
Austin Club (N63) 110 E. Ninth, 477-9496. It's like a country club without the country. Located in the Millett Opera House.
Austin Symphony Orchestra (E74) 1101 Red River, 476-6064. The ASO is headquartered in the historic Hamilton House, built in 1876 by Texas' first black legislator, Jeremiah Hamilton. The cornerstone of Symphony Square. http://www.austinsymphony.org
Brush Square (S77) 5th & Trinity. Bounded by the O. Henry Museum and Austin's Central Fire Station, Brush Square is one of the four public squares established in 1839 by Edwin Waller to serve the new capital of the Republic.
Cloak Room (N98) 1300 Colorado, 478-2622. Piano bar in the basement of turn-of-the century grocery store. An adjunct "office" for government officials.
Congress Avenue Bridge (C1) Congress Ave. & Town Lake. World-famous home of Austin's Mexican Freetail Bat colony and a northbound driving view like none other in town.
CusterHouse/Urban Issues Program (E90) MLK & I-35, 475-7900. Once a crashpad for the ill-fated General Custer, this historic building now houses the UT Urban Issues Program. http://www.utexas.edu/academic/uip/
Daniel H. Caswell House-Austin Junior Forum (N110) 1404 West, 472-0779. A standout, turn-of-the century Victorian house in this neighborhood of magnificent old homes. Owned by the nonprofit women's organization, the Austin Junior Forum, which often rents this popular spot for weddings and other special happenings. Pretend the house is yours for a day — it will only run you $1,400-1,800. http://www.austinjuniorforum.com
Doyle House (E72) Red River & 11th. This historic bungalow currently hosts the Women's Symphony League.
Duncan Park (L57) West, between 10th & 11th. The dirtbike moguls make this a favorite spot for future X-gamers.
Governor's Mansion (N82) 1010 Colorado, 463-5518. A must-see for history buffs. Tours take place from 10-11:40am daily.
Governor's Mansion
photograph by Kenny BraunHirshfeld-Moore House (N72) 814 Lavaca, 479-0895. Built by German immigrant Henry Hirshfeld, the Victorian house with its beautiful windows, walk porch, and its quaint, picket-fenced "honeymoon" cottage are now executive offices occupied by Texas A&M.
James Buford Tower & Kitchens Chimes (W87) 200 W. Cesar Chavez. Originally a fire department training facility, this Italianate tower was designed by a local architect in 1930 and restored in 1978.
Littlefield Building (C22) 106 E. Sixth, 322-0020.
O. Henry Museum (S77) 409 E. Fifth, 472-1903. The 19th-century home in which William Sydney Porter raised his family before going off to prison to become a writer. Curiosities include original volumes of his short stories and the writer's own bed.
O.Henry House
photograph by Kenny BraunPalm Park (E43) 200 N. I-35, 499-6700. One of Austin's original four town squares.
Republic Square (W78) Fifth & Guadalupe. The site where in 1839 an auction was held, selling off most of the lots in the new capital city of the Republic of Texas. The city reclaimed it as a public park in 1976.
Scarborough Building (C63)522 Congress, 478-3215.
Texas Classroom Teachers Association (N41) 700 Guadalupe, 477-9415. The Association is housed in one of the city's more distinctive old homes. It looks as if it belongs atop a windswept cliff, not overlooking East Sixth Street.
Texas Historical Commission (N126) 1511 Colorado, 463-6100. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Lone Star State but were afraid to ask.
Texas Historical Site (C89) 11th & Congress. In the shadow of the Capitol building, the original state house is a quiet little corner of history amidst the hub.
Texas State Capitol (N99) 112 E. 11th. The city's most recognizable landmark. Guided tours are offered daily, but it is also fun to simply wander around amid the camera-toting tourists and take in the majesty of the building — even if you're not crazy about what goes on there.
Trask House (E44) Third & Red River. Gorgeous example of early-Austin architecture. Not open to the public.
Treaty Oak (L37) Baylor & W. Fifth. In its youth it was pronounced "the most perfect specimen of a tree in North America." Approaching 600, Austin's most senior citizen is still majestic despite the scars of an atrocious assassination attempt.
Treaty Oak
photograph by Kenny BraunWaterloo Park (E83) Trinity & 12th. Named for the original moniker of our fair town, this 11-acre stretch of green is the perfect spot for a midafternoon sit, stroll, or siesta, and a favorite for local community events.
Wooldridge Park (N79) Guadalupe between Ninth & 10th. A bowl-shaped oasis nestled between the city library and the courthouse complex.
Periodically listings will be updated for pertinent changes.
Please send corrections for listings (addresses, phone numbers, URLs or email addresses) to: guide@auschron.com
Original publication date: 1/30/98
Last udpated online: 1/30/98
