Millett Opera House facts for kids
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Millett Opera House
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| Location | 110 E. 9th St., Austin, Texas |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | 1878 |
| Architect | F.E. Ruffini |
| NRHP reference No. | 78002991 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | March 21, 1978 |
The Millett Opera House, also known as the Austin Club, is a very old and important building in downtown Austin, Texas. It was built a long time ago, in 1878, and has a rich history. Today, it's home to a private social club called the Austin Club.
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The Millett Opera House: A Historic Austin Landmark
The Millett Opera House was built in 1878 by Charles Millett. He was a local lumber seller who owned the land. When it was finished, the building was one of the biggest places for performances in all of Texas. It was designed by Frederick Ruffini, a well-known architect who worked on many buildings across Texas.
A Grand Performance Hall
The opera house was truly impressive for its time.
- It had 800 seats that could be moved around.
- The walls were made of thick, 24-inch limestone, making the building very strong.
- It also had the largest enclosed space in Texas when it was first built.
Changing Hands and Saving History
Over the years, the Millett Opera House changed owners and purposes.
- In 1940, the Austin Public Free Schools bought the building. Today, this is known as the Austin Independent School District.
- In the 1950s, there was a plan to tear down the building.
- Luckily, a group of people from the community worked hard to save it.
- After that, a printing company used the building until 1979.
The Austin Club's Home
In 1979, the Austin Club, a private social club in the area, arranged to lease the building for a long time. The Austin Club eventually bought the opera house.
- The club carefully updated the building.
- They divided the inside into three stories.
- This meant the original large performance space was changed.
- However, a part of the beautiful, hand-painted ceiling from the original opera house is still kept in one of the meeting rooms today.
A Recognized Landmark
The Millett Opera House is located at 110 East Ninth Street in Austin. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1978. This means it is recognized as an important historical site in the United States.
