Austin Links

Helpful Links

Just moved to town? Please see these helpful links. 

The Auto Registration / Driver's License Maze - A step-by-step guide to shifting your driver's license and car registration if you have moved from out-of-state.

Austin Fun Links

Austin is a fun place to live. Here are a few suggestions:

• Staff picks- These are fun things to do
• picked out by our office staff.
• Austin's Bat Swarm
• Austin is Dog Friendly
• Austin Photo Safari
• What's Special about South Austin?
  
• Austin, The Live Music Capitol of the World!
• Austin Formula 1 Racing
• Austin Festival Smörgåsbord
• Austin Disc Golf Wierd

Central Texas Fun Links

Central Texas has more to offer. Suggestions for fun nearby:

• Central Texas; More fun close by...
  
• Spring Destination: Bluebonnets in Bloom
• The Highland Lakes

Austin Facts & History

History runs deep in Texas. Here is a quick overview of Austin history.

Our city was originally called the village of Waterloo and chosen to be the Capital of the new Republic of Texas in 1839. Austin remained the Capital when Texas was admitted into the United States in 1845. See the following link for a complete history...

www.ci.austin.tx.us/library/ahc/briefhistory.htm

The French Legation

Built in 1841 as the official residence of French Charge d'Affaires to the Republic of Texas, the Louisiana bayou style house made with Bastrop pine is the oldest standing building in the City of Austin. The site has been reconstructed with historical replicas of the outbuildings and is operated as a museum by The Daughters of The Republic of Texas. For a small fee, you can experience the 19th Century with a guided tour of the home and grounds. The complex is located just north of 7th Street and just east of IH-35 at 802 San Marcos Street.

Link: www.frenchlegationmuseum.org

Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

Wildflowers on Display
Photo Copyright 2011, Jack Shirley

Words are hard to describe Austin's wildflower research found by First Lady Claudia "Lady Bird" Johnson --- only pictures or a visit will suffice. It is a highlight of any visit to Central Texas.

Link: www.wildflower.org

A few "fun facts" from the Austin History Center:

1. In 1917, the city allowed only one gas station to be open on Sundays. It was located at 4th & Brazos.

2. Congress Avenue was once the widest city street in the world, about three times wider than it is now and originally paved with bricks.

3. In 1911, Austin's Austex Chili factory had the only tamale making machine in the world.

4. Austin's first drinking water was hauled in whiskey barrels up from the Colorado River and sold for 25 cents per barrel.

UT Tower lighted for Championship
Photo Copyright 2011 Jack Shirley

The University of Texas at Austin

You can't talk about Austin without mentioning UT. The main campus (called "the forty acres") is just north of the Texas Capitol complex. The 307 foot Texas Tower, completed in 1937, is a distinguishing landmark. It is lite in orange when Texas wins a football game or a UT team achieves victory in some other notable event.

UT home games are hosted in D. K. Royal - Memorial Stadium which seats just over 100,000 fans. A UT home game is a colossal spectacle of football, yelling fans, marching bands, Bevo (the Longhorn mascot) and more.

Small Towns Stories

Some of the towns have faded away. Others have blossomed into new suburban communities.  Each name on the map around Austin has its own story. Here are some of these stories: Small Town Stories Around Austin