General Land Office Building (Austin, Texas) facts for kids
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General Land Office Building
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The Old Land Office Building
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 Location in Texas
Location in the United States
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| Location | 108 East 11th Street Austin, Texas |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| Built | 1857 |
| Architect | Christoph Conrad Stremme |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000769 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | August 25, 1970 |
The General Land Office Building in Austin, Texas, is a very old and important building. It was finished in 1857. This building is the oldest state government office building still standing in Austin. It was also the first building designed by an architect who went to a university, a German architect named Christoph Conrad Stremme.
Contents
What Makes the Building Special?
Castle-Like Design
The building looks a bit like a medieval castle! It has a special style called "Rundbogenstil." This German word means "rounded arch style." You can see these rounded arches around the windows and doors. It also has some Norman style influences. This is especially true in the castle-like tops of the walls, which are called parapets.
Building Materials
The outside walls are made of limestone rocks. These rocks were smoothed over with a material called stucco. The stucco was then marked to look like fancy, cut stone blocks.
History of the Building
Location and a Famous Writer
This historic building is located right next to the Texas State Capitol grounds. A famous writer named William Sidney Porter once worked here. He is better known by his pen name, O. Henry. He worked in the office from 1887 to 1891. Some of his stories were even set in this very building. These stories include "Bexar Script No. 2692" and "Georgia's Ruling."
Past Uses of the Building
The building was used as the state's land office until 1917. That's 60 years of service! The land office then moved to a bigger building across the street. From 1919 until 1988, the building housed museums. The Daughters of the Republic of Texas ran a museum on the second floor. The United Daughters of the Confederacy had a museum on the first floor.
Restoration and Modern Use
The building was changed a bit in the middle of the 20th century. Later, it was emptied and then carefully restored between 1989 and 1992. This project made the inside and outside of the building look like it did in the late 1800s.
Today, the building is known as the Capitol Visitors Center. It has exhibits and offers tours about the Texas State Capitol. There is also a Texas Department of Transportation Travel Center inside. This center offers free maps and information about places to visit all over Texas.
Recognition and Landmarks
The General Land Office Building is recognized as an important historical site. It was named a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1962. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 25, 1970.
