About this property
The Austin History Center is the local history collection of the Austin Public Library and the city's historical archive. The building opened as the official Austin Public Library in 1933 and served as the main library until 1979, when library functions moved to the John Henry Faulk Library, a newer facility next door. Its site, which overlooks one of four public squares platted in Austin in 1839, was obtained from the Texas Legislature in 1913 for construction of a public library. The Renaissance Revival structure, built in 1933 during the implementation of the 1928 Austin city plan, was designed by local architect J. Roy White, working for the architectural firm of Austin native Hugo Kuehne, founding dean of the University of Texas School of Architecture. The building also contains work by several Austin craftsmen, including ironworker Fortunat Wiegl, wood-carver Peter Mansbendel, and fresco artist Harold "Bubi" Jessen. The Austin History Center celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2005. As of 2008 it houses thousands of documents, photographs, maps, artifacts, and personal histories. It features special exhibits and speakers on a regular basis. The historic library building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 6, 1993. A Texas Historical Commission marker placed in front of the library identifies it as a Texas Historic Landmark recorded in 1993. In 2025, the Austin History Center moved into the former John Henry Faulk Central Library building. A grand reopening ceremony was held on December 7th, 2025.
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Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).
Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
Everything a full report reveals about Austin Public Library
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Questions about this property
When was Austin Public Library listed on the National Register?
Austin Public Library was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on May 5, 1993.
What type of historic resource is Austin Public Library?
Austin Public Library is classified as a building in the National Register of Historic Places.
What is the period of significance for Austin Public Library?
The period of significance for Austin Public Library is recorded as the industrial era.
Can I research the history near Austin Public Library?
Yes. Aubrey Research reports search National Register listings, battlefield records, land patents, and other primary historical sources within any radius of a US address. A report for an address near Austin Public Library will include this listing and all other historical records in the area.
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