Texas State Capitol

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

The Texas State Capital is both a historic building and a museum in Austin. It is also the center of the states government. The Capitol complex covers for city blocks.

Historical Marker -  (missing at the current time, so no photo available)
Inscription:
Austin became the Capital of Texas Jan. 19, 1840, and this hill was platted as Capitol Square. A modest statehouse built here in the 1850s soon developed structural flaws. The Constitutional Convention of 1876 set aside about 3,000,000 acres of public land to finance another building. This was authorized after the 1850s Capitol burned on Nov. 9, 1881.

Architect E.E. Myers of Detroit won a national competition with his plans for this Capitol. The contractor was Mattheas Schnell of Rock Island, Ill. Basement excavation began early in 1882. Railroads built especially for this project hauled limestone from the Oatmanville Quarries in Travis County as well as stone donated by the owners of the Granite Mountain in Burnet County. The 900 workmen on the project included 86 granite cutters brought from Scotland. Charles B. and John V. Farwell, Chicago bankers, funded the construction and were repaid in land in ten panhandle counties, on which they founded the famous XIT Ranch. At dedication ceremonies on May 18, 1888, the Capitol was accepted on behalf of the people by State Senator Temple Houston, son of Texas hero Sam Houston. He called it “a structure that shall stand as a sentinel of eternity”.

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Erected:
1976

Admission:
Free

Hours:
The Capitol Information and Guide Service is located in the restored Treasurer's Business Office on the first floor of the Capitol. Free Capitol tours are conducted daily beginning in the Capitol South Foyer and concluding in the Capitol Extension. This tour features the Capitol, Texas history, and the Texas legislature.

Tours are generally 45 minutes in length and are available during the following times:

Monday - Friday, 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Saturday, 9:30 am - 3:30 pm
Sunday, Noon - 3:30 pm

Capitol tours are conducted daily except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Day and Easter.

Reservations for groups of 10 or more should be made in advance by calling 512.305.8400.

Self-guided tours are available between
Mon.-Sat. 9am-5pm
Sun. noon-5pm

Handicapped Accessibility:
There are number of entrances into the building with accessible entrances easily found at ground level. Because this a governmental building be prepared to go through security, including metal detectors.

Parking:
Texas Capitol, Capitol Extension and Capitol Visitors Center
Parking is available in the Capitol Visitors Parking Garage at 1201 San Jacinto located between Trinity and San Jacinto Streets at 12th and 13th streets. Parking is free for the first two hours and $1.00 for each half hour thereafter (maximum daily charge: $8.00); accessible parking is available in the garage and throughout the complex, with accessible routes to the Capitol. Metered spaces are also available throughout the complex and nearby streets.

Rates are subject to change during special events on weekends.

Location:
1100 Congress Ave, Austin, TX 78701

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