24 Places to Visit and Color
Jake Rose
Illustrations by Various Artists
1. Congress Avenue Bridge Every year, over 100,000 people gather to see the world's largest urban bat colony emerge from under Austin’s Congress Avenue Bridge. These bats are fun to watch and make the world a better place to live. When engineers rebuilt Congress Avenue Bridge in 1980, they found the crevices below the bridge made for an ideal bat roost. Merlin Tuttle then brought Bat Conservation International to Austin and told the city about bats’ gentle and complex nature. As Austin came to appreciate its bats, the population under Congress Avenue Bridge grew to become North America’s largest urban bat colony. The Austin American-Statesman created the Statesman Bat Observation Center near Congress Bridge, giving visitors an area to view the emergence. BCI has been influential in protecting and promoting the Congress Avenue Bridge bat colony as an eco-tourism destination. With up to 1.5 million Mexican free-tailed bats spiraling into the skies, Austin now has one of the most fascinating tourist attractions anywhere.
Photo by Jonathan Cutrer
2. Texas State Capitol Designed by Elijah Myers in 1882, the Capitol Building was built with limestone and Texas Sunset Red Granite. The Texas Capitol stands at 302 feet high, 14 feet taller than the nation's 288 foot Capitol in Washington D.C. In 1888, the Texas Capitol was dedicated with the zinc Goddess of Liberty as its crowing element. In 1983, a fire broke out in the Capitol, while workers noticed that the Goddess had major cracks all around its body. Thus, the Texas State Preservation Board was created to restore, preserve and maintain the Capitol. In 1985, the SPB removed the original Goddess statue from the dome. In 1986, the Mississippi National Guard placed the aluminum Goddess atop the dome. From 1990 to 1995, the SPB renovated the Capitol, restored the building's interior and exterior, and built an underground extension. Completed in 1995, the Capitol Restoration returned the Capitol to its glorious past and prepared it for the future. In 2010, the Goddess was repainted to ensure that she will remain an enduring Texas symbol.
Photo by Carol M. Highsmith
4. Bullock Texas State History Museum The Bullock Texas State History Museum illuminates the Story of Texas and celebrates Texas history, people and culture. Three floors of Texas History Galleries explore everything from the earliest inhabitants, European colonization and the Texas Revolution to equal rights, space exploration, and pop culture. Two special exhibition galleries host a variety of relevant and engaging exhibitions featuring artifacts from all over the world and immersive multimedia experiences. The Bullock Museum also offers educational programs for all ages and two unique theaters: the IMAX® Theatre with the largest screen in Texas and the multi-sensory Texas Spirit Theater. The Bullock Museum is named for the 38th Lieutenant Governor of Texas, Bob Bullock, who championed the preservation and exhibition of Texas history.
Photo by Dbtfz
6. Austin 360 Bridge Officially known as the Percy Pennybacker Jr. Bridge, the Austin 360 Bridge is commonly called as such because it bears a section of the Loop 360 highway that runs through Austin, Texas. Made from Japanese steel, the Austin 360 Bridge is unique in that no part of the bridge actually touches the water – leaving a clear thoroughfare for boaters below. Surrounded by rolling hills and expansive skylines, the Austin 360 Bridge draws people from all over the world. Completed in 1982, the Austin 360 Bridge was one of the first bridges that was built with a new style of construction and welding. The bridge is just one thousand feet long and has over one hundred feet of clearance below, allowing for huge boats to pass without difficulty. Pack a camera, some walking shoes, take a water bottle, and prepare to be amazed by the views and scenery surrounding the Austin 360 Bridge.
9. Driskill Hotel Located on 6th and Brazos Streets in the heart of downtown Austin stands a landmark of Texas hospitality: the Driskill. Built in 1886, the Driskill has 189 fabulous guestrooms, three restaurants, matchless service, and is conveniently located near the Texas State Capitol and Austin's 6th Street music scene. Restored to its original opulence, the Driskill sets the standard for elegance in Austin. From the columned lobby with its marble floors and stained-glass dome to the décor of the 189 guestrooms and suites, the Driskill ensures that every stay is a memorable one. Looming large in Texas’ history, the Driskill’s dedication to service, memorable experiences, rich culinary delights and welcoming warmth are Texas-sized. A visit to the Driskill is unforgettable – they are honored to welcome you for a truly memorable stay.
Photo by Frank Brückner
10. Governor's Mansion This premier historic home has served as the official residence of Texas governors and their families since 1856. It is the fourth oldest continuously occupied governor’s residence in the country and the oldest governor’s mansion west of the Mississippi River. In 2008, the Governor's Mansion was damaged by arson. The Mansion was empty and all its prized contents in storage, but significant structural and architectural damage occurred to the house. With broad support from preservationists, lawmakers and Texans from all walks of life, the arsonist has not been given the last word in the history of this Texas treasure. The Governor’s Mansion has been fully restored and will be occupied by governors and their families for many more decades to come.
Photo by Bryan Rutherford
11. Elisabet Ney museum A magnificent limestone castle burgeoning out of the wild prairie grounds, Elisabet Ney’s Formosa studio is home to the Elisabet Ney Museum–which houses the world’s largest collection of her work. Built in 1892, Formosa was where Ney sculpted legendary Texans like Stephen Austin and Sam Houston as well as European notables such as King Ludwig II and Otto von Bismarck. Following her death in 1907, her friends preserved the studio and its contents as the Elisabet Ney Museum and therein established the Texas Fine Arts Association dedicated to her memory. Preserving Elisabet Ney’s memory and legacy for educational, historical, and artistic purposes, the Elisabet Ney Museum inspires humanity by creating unique visitor experiences that portray and attract a diverse audience and leave them challenged, uplifted, and motivated by their visit.
13. Stevie Ray Vaughan Statue Blues guitarist demigod Stevie Ray Vaughan died in 1990 at the young age of 35 when his helicopter crashed into a ski slope. Sculpted in 1993 by Ralph Helmick, his larger-than-life bronze statue of Vaughan is shown standing upright, "meditatively," wearing a broad-brimmed hat, a serape, and cowboy boots. The hat on Stevie Ray's statue blocked his face from the sun, so that statue was moved from its intended location to a jogging trail next to the river, so it could face south.
Photo by Larry D. Moore
14. Austin History Center Procuring, preserving, presenting, and offering the historical records that make up Austin's unique story, the Austin History Center provides the public with information about the history, current events, and activities of Austin and Travis County. As the Austin Public Library’s local history division, they collect and preserve information about local governments, businesses, residents, institutions, and neighborhoods so that generations to come will have access to their history. Designed by Hugo Kuehne in 1933, the building that houses the Austin History Center was Austin's first permanent public library building. It is a major source of civic pride for Austin.
Photo by Carol M. Highsmith
18. Broken Spoke The Broken Spoke is Texas' most definitive dance hall. Voted "Best Dancehall in Texas" by Texas Highway, James and Annetta White have been operating the Austin tradition since 1964 and its reputation for great live country music and good Texas cooking is world famous! Willie Nelson started playing at the Spoke before he moved back from Nashville when he still had a crew cut and a sport coat. In fact, it's not unusual to find the Red-Headed Stranger at the Spoke playing the guitar. Through the years, James and Annetta have opened their doors and welcomed to the stage an impressive list of aspiring musicians. Country superstars from Kris Kristofferson to Kitty Wells have jumped up on that stage and carried on the tradition of good country music that the Broken Spoke has made famous. Though the Broken Spoke isn't quite as old as the Battle of the Alamo, it captures the mystical charms that makes Texas worth fighting for all over again. And they’re still holding strong right in the middle of Austin, Texas!