Friday, August 16, 2013

Moontowers

Hiding in plain sight around the downtown Austin area, these 165-foot industrial artifacts could be considered a marvel. Even an outdoor museum. They are collectively listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Today, in all of the United States, only Austin has surviving examples of this type of lighting system that was once popular in many American cities during the late 1800s. Only seventeen of the original towers are scattered around "old" Austin - with the greatest concentration being around the Capitol. Surprisingly, only two have been lost to automobile mishaps.
The pictures below were taken at 12th and Rio Grande. 
photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Inscription:
This is one of 17 that remain out of 31 towers erected 1894-95 and in continuous use since. Their carbon arc lights then illuminated the entire city. Now mercury vapor lamps provide beacons for many miles on roads and airway, from dusk to dawn. Austin is said to be unique in this dramatic method of lighting.



Erected:
??   by Austin Landmarks

Handicapped Accessibility:

photo by Kevin Surbaugh

Location(s):


In 1976 as of 2010 Location
1 Active Active Zilker Park
2 Active Active Monroe and S. 1st
3 Active Active Leland St. and Eastside Dr.
4 Active Active Canterbury and Lynn
6 Active Active W. 9th and Guadalupe
7 Active Active E. 11th and Lydia
8 Active Active Pennsylvania Ave. and Leona St.
9 Active Active E. 13th and Coleto
10 Active Active MLK and Chicon
11 Active Active W. 12th and Blanco
12 Active Active W. 12th and Rio Grande
13 Active Active W. 15th and San Antonio
14 Active Active W. 22nd and Nueces
15 Active Active W. 41st and Speedway
16 Active Active West 4th and Nueces
17 Active Active E. 11th and Trinity
18 Active Gone East 6th and Medina
19 Active Gone E. 23rd and Red River
20 Active Gone E. 2nd and Neches
21 Active Gone W. 6th and Westlynn
22 Active Gone City Park (Emma Long Metropolitan Park)
23 Gone Gone E. 16th and Brazos
24 Gone Gone E. 20th (or E. 21st) and Longfellow
25 Gone Gone MLK (was 19th) and Lavaca
26 Gone Gone E. 14th and Sabine
27 Gone Gone Dean Keeton St. and Whitis Ave.
28 Gone Gone E. 5th and Brazos
29 Gone Gone 29th St. and Lamar Blvd.
30 Gone Gone W. 6th St. and Lamar Blvd
31 Gone Gone North end of Granite Dam
32 Gone Gone East 1st and Waller
33 Gone Gone E. Cesar Chavez and Trinity

According to Wikipedia there has been two (2) towers that have been destroyed in traffic accidents, two (2) that have been blown down by tornadoes, and six that have been victims of rust and old age.


What do you think about this attraction?

No comments:

Post a Comment