Town Lake Gazebo facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Town Lake Gazebo
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Viewed from the south in 2019
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 Location in Texas
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| Location | 9307 Ann & Roy Butler Hike & Bike Trail Austin, Texas |
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| Area | Less than 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| Built | August 1969 |
| Architect | J. Sterry Nill |
| Architectural style | Modernist |
| NRHP reference No. | 100004970 |
| Added to NRHP | February 7, 2020 |
The Town Lake Gazebo is a special building in Austin, Texas. It sits on the south shore of Lady Bird Lake, right next to Auditorium Shores. People sometimes call it the Women in Construction Gazebo or Fannie Davis Town Lake Gazebo. It was built in 1969 to make the area around the lake more beautiful. The National Association of Women in Construction helped pay for this unique structure. In 2020, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places because of its history and design.
Contents
How the Gazebo Was Built
Early Ideas and Construction
In 1960, the Longhorn Dam was finished on the Colorado River. This created Lady Bird Lake, which was then called Town Lake. The lake was right next to downtown Austin, Texas. The next year, the Austin City Council formed a group to plan how to develop the land around the new lake.
In 1965, a group called the National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) came forward. They wanted to help build something nice for the lake's shoreline. On November 9, 1965, the City Council said yes to NAWIC's plan. They agreed to build a public gazebo. This gazebo would offer great views of downtown Austin and the lake.
NAWIC started raising money in January 1966. They showed an early design that looked like a mushroom. This was meant to match the roof of the nearby Palmer Auditorium. The building of the gazebo officially began on July 1, 1968.
The project cost about $6,000 in cash. But NAWIC also convinced local construction companies and workers to help for free. This free help was worth about $30,000. Building the gazebo took a long time because the work was done for free. It was finally finished in August 1969. A special ceremony was held on June 8, 1970, with Austin Mayor Travis LaRue attending.
Updates and Recognition
The gazebo got some repairs and updates in 1984. NAWIC paid for these improvements again. The city then officially named it the Fannie Davis Town Lake Gazebo. This was to honor Fannie Davis, who helped start NAWIC's Austin chapter.
In 1992, a clear dome was added to the roof's opening to keep out rain. A wheelchair ramp was put in place in 1995. The most recent repairs happened in 2012.
On February 7, 2020, the gazebo was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This was because of its unique design and its importance as a community project. It showed how people could work together to make public spaces beautiful. This project also inspired other similar efforts in Austin.
What the Gazebo Looks Like
The Town Lake Gazebo is an open building. It has a curved roof that looks like a funnel or a morning glory flower. Eight strong pillars hold up this roof. These pillars are made of reinforced concrete and covered with rough limestone rocks. They stand at the corners of an eight-sided base.
The pillars lean slightly inward and get narrower at the top. They support curved wooden beams that hold the roof. The roof itself is made of folded plywood. It is white on the outside and light blue underneath. The floor inside is made of concrete with small pebbles. It is about 900 square feet (84 square meters). There are also concrete benches around the edge for people to sit on.
Its Unique Design
At first, there was an idea to build the gazebo on a small island in the lake. But it was built right by the water's edge at Auditorium Shores instead. The architect who designed it was J. Sterry Nill. He was married to Lori Nill, who was the president of NAWIC's Austin chapter.
The gazebo uses many different materials and styles. This makes it hard to put it into just one architectural style. It has a modern look, but it also mixes in elements of Googie design. Googie is a style known for its bold shapes and futuristic feel. It also has a rustic park style, which is common for outdoor buildings in Central Texas.
