Austin Then and Now

Then When cattle baron Col. Jesse Driskill opened the Driskill Hotel in 1886, the property featured 60 well-appointed guest rooms. Twelve rooms boasted en-suite baths, a rare amenity for the time, so the Daily Statesman hailed it as “one of the finest hotels in the...

 Then The 1980s brought more to Austin than big hair and shoulder pads. That decade marked the beginning of the state capital city’s evolution into the Bat Capital of the U.S.   The transition began with the renovation of the Ann W. Richards Congress Avenue...

  Then In 1893, the Colorado River was Austin's only waterway. It was transformed when a dam was built to create Lake McDonald. The Great Colorado couldn't be held. In 1900, it destroyed the dam and, then a decade later, another dam. In 1940, the Tom Miller Dam...

Then The University of Texas (UT) was founded in 1883, and it took 10 years to start a football team; in 1924, the first football stadium was built. Students and alumni raised over $250,000 to fund the project. It was originally christened War Memorial Stadium to...

THENCharles Umlauf was an artist, University of Texas professor, philanthropist, and nature enthusiast. In 1944, he purchased eight acres on the top of a hill near Barton Creek. At the time, the property had an old carriage house that had fallen into disrepair. The...

Everyone knows that Austin loves live music, but what about the city’s performing arts scene? When it comes to exceptional theater performances, look no further than ZACH Theatre. Over many decades, the institution has transformed into a major regional theater,...

Then Known as one of the most beautiful lookout spots in town, Mount Bonnell has long been an Austin favorite. Resting 775ft. above sea level and overlooking the Colorado River, this now 5.1-acre historic linear park is the highest point in Austin, offering a blend of...

Then Austin was already keeping it weird back when a little natural foods store opened its doors on North Lamar back in 1980. Founded by John Mackey and Renee Lawson Hardy, this natural grocer served health-conscious consumers in a supermarket atmosphere. The original...

THEN   You’ve seen their locations all over town, but I bet you didn’t know Stepping Stone School was Austin homegrown!  Back in the late 1970s, when the Paver family moved to Austin, they searched for affordable, quality early childcare and education for their...

Then While local eateries in Austin have come and gone throughout the years, Kerbey Lane Café has been a mainstay since it opened its doors back in the 1980s. Located in a bungalow on Kerbey Lane in central Austin, founders David and Patricia Ayer operated their...