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Downtown Austin, Texas, is the vibrant heart of the capital city, blending historic charm with modern energy.
Introduction to Downtown Austin
Downtown Austin is known for its live music venues, trendy restaurants, colorful street art, and iconic landmarks like the Texas State Capitol. It offers a dynamic mix of culture, creativity, and Southern hospitality.
My experience in the area was limited to some buildings around the Texas State Capitol. I’ll explore more next time I’m in the city.
Texas Governor’s Mansion
The Texas Governor’s Mansion is across the street from the Texas State Capitol. It has been the official residence of Texas governors since 1856 and the fourth oldest continuously occupied governor’s residence in the country. Free tours are available on select days (as of July 2025). They last about 25-30 minutes and reservations are required at least one week in advance.
The mansion was built between 1854 and 1856 and was designed by Abner Cook (1814-1884). It originally had 11 rooms with no bathrooms spread over 6,000 square feet. In 1914, the mansion was expanded to 8,920 square feet, and remodeled to include 25 rooms and seven bathrooms. It was declared a National Historic Landmark on December 2, 1974.
Lundberg Bakery
Walking down 10th Street, I noticed the former Lundberg Bakery building. It was completed in 1876 for Charles Lundberg (1835-1895), who moved to Austin from Sweden in 1872. Writer William Sydney Porter (1862-1910), more commonly known as O. Henry, was a frequent customer. The building was used as a bakery until 1936 and later changed hands several times until it was acquired by the Austin Heritage Society in 1962 and refurbished.
Lundberg Bakery was threatened with demolition in 1970 until the foundations of the previous Texas State Capitol building were discovered in an excavation next door. It was given to the City of Austin in 1980 and now houses the Old Bakery and Emporium, which features exhibits from local artists aged 50 or older. It’s open Wednesday through Saturday and admission is free (as of July 2025).
St. Mary Cathedral
Further down 10th Street is St. Mary Cathedral. The congregation of the cathedral was founded in the 1850s by a mostly Irish Catholic community. They originally worshipped at a small stone church called St. Patrick’s. After an influx of German Catholics increased the size of the parish, the congregation decided to build a new church in 1866. Both sides agreed to name the church in honor of Mary.
Construction on the church started in 1872. The architect was Nicholas Clayton (1839-1916), originally from Ireland. It opened in 1874 and was consecrated on April 20, 1884. The Neo-Gothic spires were completed in 1907. The church became a cathedral in 1948.
State of Texas Office Building
Next to the State Capitol Visitor Center is an office building for the State of Texas. It features the Seal of the State of Texas above the entrance.
University of Texas
Finally, I walked through a small part of the campus of the University of Texas at Austin. It was founded on September 15, 1883. The campus covers 423.5 acres and has 150 buildings with a total floor space of 18,000,000 square feet (1,700,000 square meters). One of the buildings is the LBJ Presidential Library. From what I saw, it’s a beautiful campus and I hope to return to see more.
Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
The most prominent building I saw was Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium. It’s one of the largest stadiums in the entire world and has been home to the Texas Longhorns football team since 1924. The official seating capacity is 100,119 and it has been expanded several times throughout its history. The stadium was officially named after former football coach Darrell K Royal (1924-2012) in 1996.
