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| Victorian
homes in Austin, built in 1889 by Minus Culver near historic Clarksville.
A central neighborhood with a unique character, and on the National
Register Historic District, Old west Austin was founded as an African-American
freedman’s community in 1871. The property was originally owned
by Texas Gov. E.M. Pease, who gave the land to his former slaves
in 1863 as an effort to keep them as workers on his plantation. |
The Culver Family, circa 1890 |
| Our
section of the city, known as Old West Austin, embraces some of
the city's most prestigious addresses and exemplifies
the diverse people that built Austin. It represents one of the oldest
continuous neighborhoods in Austin. The area contains a rich set
of historical elements ranging from residential properties to community
sites and businesses, which demonstrate a clear picture of Austin
from the late 1800’s. |
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A Moonlight Tower, one of the 17 remaining in Austin, still stands
at the corner of 12th and Blanco, across the street from Brava
House. The towers have been in operation for over 100 years.
They have only been turned off three times since their original
installation. Once in 1905 the towers were off for a week due
to a dispute between the city council and the water and light
commission. The second time the towers were darkened was in 1973
during the energy crisis. The Moonlight Towers were completely
restored in the mid 1990s by the City of Austin. |
| In
1869 the Texas Military Institute (TMI) was built on West 11th
Street. Because of its unique Victorian Gothic architecture,
it is often referred to as “The Castle”. It is the
oldest existing college building in Texas. “The Castle” as
well as 2 of the faculty homes (at 1106 W. 10th Street and 1109
W. 10th Street) are designated Austin Landmarks. Just down the
street from Brava House, "The Castle" is worth taking
a stroll by while enjoying a walk through our neighborhood. |
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| West Austin Park was the original site of the Clarksville
Jazz Festival (now held in Pease Park). The park has long been a
place for the residents of the neighborhood to swim, walk their dogs
or just enjoy a nice day. |
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Even
though only one-third of the original tree survives, the 600-year-old
Treaty Oak stands on Baylor Street between West 5th Street and
West 6th Street. Treaty Oak served as a temple and meeting place
for area Comanches and Tonkowas; legend has it that Stephen F.
Austin signed a boundary treaty there with the local Indians
in the 1800s. |
| Old
West Austin is bordered on the west by West Lynn, on the
south by 6th Street, and north by Enfield Avenue. It remains a mix
of comfortable, modest homes and some gentrified houses. Within
the neighborhood are several shops, bakeries, a pottery store, and
restaurants, including one of Austin's top dining spots, Jeffrey's.
Old West Austin is a favorite place for city residents to visit.
For more information about the area, check out the Old West
Austin Neighborhood Association page.
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