Austin History Center facts for kids
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Austin History Center
(NRHP: Austin Public Library) |
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The Austin History Center main entrance
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 Location in Texas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 810 Guadalupe St Austin, Texas, USA |
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| Built | 1933 |
| Architect | Hugo Kuehne J. Roy White |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 93000389 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | May 6, 1993 |
The Austin History Center is a special part of the Austin Public Library. It holds many important historical items about the city of Austin. Think of it as Austin's memory bank!
This building first opened in 1933 as Austin's main public library. It was the city's main library until 1979. Then, a newer library, the John Henry Faulk Library, opened right next door. The land where it stands was chosen in 1913. It overlooks one of Austin's original public squares from 1839.
The building was designed in 1933 by local architects J. Roy White and Hugo Kuehne. It has a beautiful Renaissance Revival style. Many talented Austin artists and craftspeople helped build it. These included ironworker Fortunat Weigl, wood-carver Peter Mansbendel, and fresco artist Harold "Bubi" Jessen.
The Austin History Center celebrated its 50th birthday in 2005. As of 2008, it keeps thousands of documents, photos, maps, and personal stories. It often has special exhibits and speakers for visitors.
This historic library building was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 6, 1993. This means it's a very important historical place in the United States. A special marker outside also calls it a Texas Historic Landmark.
Contents
Discovering the Austin History Center
Art and Design Inside
The Austin History Center has amazing art and design. The main entrance has a covered walkway called a loggia. It has tall columns and arches.
Loggia Fresco Painting
A local artist named Harold “Bubi” Jessen painted a beautiful fresco on the ceiling of this loggia. A fresco is a painting done on wet plaster. His painting shows winged horses and flowing lines. Bubi Jessen came to Austin from Germany as a child. He studied architecture at the University of Texas. He even designed over 20 buildings for the university! He also wrote a children's book called “Humbert the Lion.”
Amazing Ironwork Details
The main entrance has three large wooden double doors. Above them are transom windows, which are windows placed above a door. These windows, and the outdoor balcony railings, have fancy ironwork. This was made by a master ironsmith named Fortunat Weigl. Fortunat came to Austin from Germany. He started F. Weigl Iron Works with help from Peter Mansbendel. His family's ironworking business continued for many years.
Beautiful Wood Carvings
Inside, you'll see amazing wooden details. These were made by a Swiss woodcarver named Peter Mansbendel. Peter started carving wood when he was very young. He studied his craft in big cities like London, Paris, and New York. You can see his work in other places too. For example, he carved plaques of past presidents at the University of Texas at Austin.
Exploring the Main Lobby
The main lobby of the Austin History Center is very grand. The walls are divided into three parts. The lower part has oak wood panels. The middle part has columns that look like old Roman or Greek styles. The ceiling is made of plaster and has five sections with chandeliers. Chandeliers are fancy hanging lights. The rubber tile floors in the lobby are original from 1933!
Special Rooms to See
Holt Gallery
The David Earl Holt Gallery Room is on the left side of the lobby. It can hold up to 62 people. Non-profit groups can reserve this room. It has a fireplace that is original to the building from 1933. The fireplace has special carvings by Fred Eder.
Mayor’s Room
The Mayor's Room is next to the Holt Gallery. It's named for the pictures of Austin's mayors that hang around the room. These pictures show mayors from as far back as 1839!
O. Henry Collection
The O. Henry Room has a large collection of items from William Sydney Porter. William Porter lived in Austin in the late 1800s. He wrote famous short stories using the pen name O. Henry. This room has some of O. Henry's original furniture. Many items were given by Judge Trueman E. O'Quinn and other families.
Reading Room
The Reading Room is on the right side of the lobby. This is where visitors can sit and do their research. It has soft carpet and original tables and chairs from 1933. The lamps on the tables were designed especially for this room in the 1980s. The room has large arched windows. There are also columns and shelves that divide the research area from the reference materials.
See also
In Spanish: Centro de Historia de Austin para niños
