Must-See Austin Historic Sites

1. The Driskill Hotel was built in 1886 by cattle baron Jesse Driskill as a frontier showplace. Insider tip: Visit The Driskill Bar for an old Texas atmosphere and stiff drinks. Or opt for The Victorian, the hotel’s grand two-level lounge that offers live music weekly.

2. In East Austin, explore the 24-acre campus of Huston-Tillotson University, a private historically Black university established in 1875. Don’t miss the Prairie School-style Anthony and Louise Viaer Alumni Hall, listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Courtesy of The Driskill Hotel.

3. The Paramount Theatre, a century-old performance venue and movie theater in the heart of Downtown Austin, will be closed for renovation through spring 2027. But visitors can still see films, comedy shows and more next door at The State Theatre. In the meantime, Paramount fans can look forward to new seating, a lounge, and expanded restrooms and concession stands.

4. The Texas Capitol Visitors Center is housed in the renovated 1857 General Land Office Building that was originally used to store state land records. The granite Texas State Capitol was built in the late 1800s.

5. Staking its claim as Austin’s oldest drinking establishment, Scholz Garten was founded in 1866 and continues to be the place to celebrate University of Texas football wins (a tradition here since 1893).

6. Built in 1909,  Avenue B Grocery and Market is Austin's oldest continuously operated grocery store. When the “V” in the window is lit up it means they’re open for business, serving fabulous deli sammies.

Stubb's Bar-B-Q. Credit to RRCD & Jay Ybarra.

7. Stubb’s Bar-B-Q is a music institution that serves lip-smacking barbecue alongside music from some of the best live bands around.

8. Since 1946, the roadside Sandy’s Hamburgers has been a favorite spot to pick up a burger and vanilla cone post-swim at nearby Barton Springs Pool.

9. Get an insider’s look at the history and culture of Austin and Texas at the Bullock Texas State History Museum, which features fun, interactive exhibits and an IMAX theater.

Bullock Museum. Credit @bullockmuseum on Instagram.

10. Step back to the 1800s at the 90-acre Pioneer Farms living history park featuring six areas depicting Texas pioneer life — complete with costumed interpreters and friendly farm animals.

11. See the final resting place of many Texas notables (including politicians and high-profile citizens) at the Texas State Cemetery, founded in 1851.

12. Experience the everyday lives of some of Austin’s earliest residents at the Neill-Cochran House Museum, built in 1855.

13. The Mediterranean-style Contemporary Austin–Laguna Gloria, nestled on the Lake Austin waterfront, is a former private estate that’s now a branch of The Contemporary Austin art museum.

Blanton Museum. Credit to Cindy Bolanos.

14. The University of Texas at Austin is home to an impressive collection of museums, including the Blanton Museum of Art, with works by Mark Rothko and Thomas Hart Benton; the Harry Ransom Center, housing cultural archives that include the Watergate Collection; and the LBJ Presidential Library, featuring inspiring exhibits on President Lyndon Baines Johnson and his beloved wife, Lady Bird Johnson.

15. Celebrate African American heritage at the George Washington Carver Museum, Cultural and Genealogy Center through exhibits, programs, and theatrical productions.

16. The elegant Texas Governor’s Mansion was built in 1856 and serves as the official residence of Texas governors and their families. Free guided tours are offered with advance reservations.

Old Bakery & Emporium. Courtesy of Austin Parks & Recreation. 

17.  In the Clarksville neighborhood, see the historic Hezikiah Haskell House, a board-and-batten structure built by freedman Peter Tucker in 1875. The house was later home to Haskell, a Buffalo Soldier and a Civil War veteran who fought for the Union. Today, the site is a public park, community garden, and museum.

18. The Austin History Center, preserves and presents historic materials, including photos and manuscripts, that tell the unique story of Austin.

19. Nestled in the shady hamlet of Hyde Park is the Elisabet Ney Museum, housed in what was once the German-born sculptress’ home and studio. 

20. Notable buildings along Congress Avenue, built as a ceremonial boulevard in 1839, include the historic Phillips Building (now housing the Austin Visitor Center), Old Bakery & Artisan Emporium (housing an art gallery), the ornate Walter Tips Building, the Scarbrough Building (Austin’s original office tower) and the Littlefield Building (one of Austin’s first skyscrapers).

O. Henry Museum. Courtesy of the Austin Parks & Recreation Department.

21. Within the East Sixth Street National Register Historic District are the Brush Square Museums: The Susanna Dickinson Museum (home of the only Anglo adult survivor of the Battle of the Alamo) and the O. Henry Museum (former residence of the famed short story writer).

22. Opened in 1871, the Historic Scoot Inn is the oldest bar in Central Texas and continues to host live music of all genres.

23. Located across the street from The University of Texas at Austin since 1974, the Hole in the Wall stage has hosted bands of all stripes.

Continental Club. Credit to @thebeachalchemist-Instagram.

24. Founded in 1955 as a swanky supper club, the retro Continental Club presents nightly live rockabilly, country, rock, and swing music.

25. Do some two-stepping at the Broken Spoke, an old-fashioned honky-tonk that’s been known as one of the best dance halls in Texas since opening in 1964.

26. Formerly known as Victory Grill, a historic place in Austin's musical roots is now home to Victory East, an intimate dining spot serving elevated Southern fare. Duck into upscale speakeasy Busy Signal in the back.

27. Early Austin businessman and philanthropist Andrew Jackson Zilker gifted the citizens of Austin with Zilker Park, a 360-acre oasis in the heart of downtown that’s the site of festivals and free plays at Zilker Hillside Theater. The park is also home to Zilker Botanical Garden, UMLAUF Sculpture Garden + Museum and Barton Springs Pool, a spring-fed swimming spot with grassy hills for sunbathing.

Barton Springs Pool. Credit Visit Austin.

28. Created in 1960 when a dam was built on the Colorado River, Lady Bird Lake is a favorite spot for kayakers, as well as runners and cyclists on the bordering Ann and Roy Butler Hike-and-Bike Trail.

29. Stroll along The Tejano Trails through Austin’s East Cesar Chavez neighborhood to see historic schools and homes, turn-of-the-century churches, parks and green spaces, and public art.

30. Visit Downs-Mabson Field, the current home field of the Huston-Tillotson University Rams and former home to the Austin Black Senators of the Texas Negro League during the early 20th century. Over the decades, this baseball field has hosted notable athletes of color, including Willie Wells and Jackie Robinson. 

Downs Mabson Field. Courtesy of Austin Parks & Recreation. 

31. Enjoy panoramic vistas of the Austin area atop Mount Bonnell, a prominent landmark along Lake Austin and a popular tourist destination since the 1850s.

32. Constructed around the city between 1894 and 1895, Austin’s iconic Moontowers are 165-foot lamp towers that illuminated the city at night, allowing residents to leave their homes after dark—and showing many people electric light for the first time. The towers have made several appearances in pop culture, being referenced in the 1993 cult classic Dazed and Confused and inspiring the name for the Moontower Comedy Festival. The towers are listed on the National Register of Historic Places.​

33. Built in 1910, the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue Bridge is the home of a colony of 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats that spectacularly fly out into the night sky every evening from spring through fall.

Congress Avenue Bridge. Credit to JType Photography (@jtype).

34. Originally an early 1900s summer retreat for the family of prominent Austin politician Allison Mayfield, Mayfield Park is a beautiful public green space known for its vibrant strutting peacocks.

35. The huge, spring-fed Deep Eddy Pool is the state’s oldest pool, offering a traditional public pool experience in the center of Austin, complete with waterside movies in the summer.

Looking for more information on Austin's history? Explore Austin’s Story: A Guide to Historic Destinations in Austin.