Laguna Gloria facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria
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| Location | 3809 W. 35th St Austin, Texas, USA |
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| Built | 1916 |
| Architect | Jack Johnson |
| NRHP reference No. | 75002005 |
| Added to NRHP | December 6, 1975 |
The Contemporary Austin - Laguna Gloria is a beautiful old home and art museum in Austin, Texas. It sits right by Lake Austin. This special place used to be the home of a famous person named Clara Driscoll. Her amazing house, built in 1916, looks like a fancy Italian villa. Today, it's one of two places that make up The Contemporary Austin, a cool art museum. This historic building is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, which means it's a very important landmark.
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The History of Laguna Gloria
Early Days and Native American Visits
Long ago, before many settlers arrived, Native Americans often visited this area. They came because of a natural spring nearby. This spring is now underwater, but it was once a vital spot.
The land where Laguna Gloria stands was first owned by Stephen F. Austin. He was a very important person in Texas history. In 1832, even before the city of Austin was founded, he dreamed of building a home here. However, his dream never came true.
Clara Driscoll's Dream Home
In 1914, a couple named Hal Sevier and Clara Driscoll bought the property. Hal Sevier was the editor of a newspaper called the Austin American. Clara and Hal had just gotten married.
They finished building their beautiful villa two years later, in 1916. They were inspired by a trip they took for their honeymoon. They had visited Lake Como in Italy, and they wanted their home to look just as grand.
Clara Driscoll loved gardening very much. She spent many years planting all sorts of plants around her home. She planted both local Texas plants and plants from other countries. She also designed the amazing terraced gardens you can still see today.
Becoming an Art Museum
In 1943, Clara Driscoll made a very generous gift. She donated her home and gardens to be used as a city museum. She wanted others to enjoy this special place.
In 1961, the site officially became the Laguna Gloria Art Museum. It quickly became a very important part of the art scene in Austin. Soon after, the museum started offering art classes for people to learn and create.
By 1983, the art school was growing fast. A new building was constructed just for the art school. It was a large space, about 5,300-square-foot (490 m2).
In 1992, the museum changed its name to the Austin Museum of Art. Four years later, its main art exhibits moved to a new spot downtown. But Laguna Gloria remained the home of The Art School. In 2003, Clara Driscoll's original villa was updated. It became an exhibition space again, showing art by local and regional artists.
Today, Laguna Gloria is right next to Mayfield Park. Mayfield Park is also a historic site listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Texas Historical Marker
A special marker from the Texas Historical Commission tells more about Laguna Gloria. It says:
"This Mediterranean style villa was built in 1916 for Henry H. and Clara Driscoll Sevier. It was named Laguna Gloria because of a nearby lagoon off the Colorado River. The stuccoed home has a special decorative window. This window is like one found at San Jose Mission in San Antonio. In 1943, Clara Driscoll gave the site to the Texas Fine Arts Association. Clara Driscoll is famous for helping to save the Alamo. Her former home is now owned by the Laguna Gloria Art Museum."
This marker shows that Laguna Gloria is a "Recorded Texas Historic Landmark" since 1983.
