2026-08-28 09:46:13
Austin’s history runs deep, with museums, landmarks and fascinating stories just waiting to be discovered.
Start your journey into Austin’s past at the Texas State Capitol Complex, where the State Capitol Building wows with its stunning sunset red granite facade and a grand rotunda. Nearby, discover two centuries of history at the Capitol Visitors Center & Museum — don’t miss the Capitol replica constructed of 65,000 LEGO bricks!
Stroll through the peaceful Texas State Cemetery and honor notables like Stephen F. Austin (known as the Father of Texas) and Ma Ferguson, Texas’ first female governor. Guided tours are available.
The 1841 French Legation Historic Site may be Austin’s oldest building. Formerly a diplomatic outpost, it’s now a restored house museum blending 19th-century life and state history. The Paramount Theatre once hosted icons like magician Harry Houdini and jazz trumpeter Miles Davis, and you can still enjoy concerts and screenings here today. The Paramount Theatre is closed for renovation through spring; see website for updates.
Two Brush Square Museums share unique Austin stories. Tour the Susanna Dickinson Museum, home to a key eyewitness to the Battle of the Alamo. Next door, the O. Henry Museum recreates the Austin home of the famed short story writer circa 1895.
Learn about the people who built Austin — both free and enslaved — at the Neill-Cochran House Museum, where the Greek Revival home and quarters have been carefully restored. Wander the lush gardens and ponds at the historic Mayfield Park & Nature Preserve, a 23-acre property home to preening peacocks since the 1930s.
Tour the castle-like home and studio of a renowned 19th-century sculptor at the recently renovated Elisabet Ney Museum — her work is on display in the U.S. Capitol and the Smithsonian. Step back into the 1800s at Jourdan-Bachman Pioneer Farms, a living history museum complete with real 19th-century buildings and costumed characters straight from the frontier days.
See local landmarks and learn about our unique history with Austin Visitor Center Walking Tours, each led by an expert guide.
CLICK HERE and explore Austin’s guide to historic destinations
©Visit Austin. View All Articles.