from
WorldWeb.com Travel Guide
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The
City of Austin |
Austin has a remarkable
history, and a brilliant future. As the technological and intellectual center
of Texas, Austin
is not only the state capital but also a leader in higher education, maintaining
one of the highest levels of education in the country. It is a forerunner in
the technological revolution. Austin is a Texas city in every way, and is known
to indulge itself with a Texas sized appetite. Winner of the Fortune Magazine
award for "The Best City for Business in North America", Austin offers business
and shopping opportunities the way one would expect from the heart of this state—big.
The largest travel store in the state, health food stores and bookstores the
size of supermarkets can all be found here. Also among its claims to fame are
countless movie theaters and more restaurants per capita than any city in the
entire USA.
HISTORY
Austin grew out of the early
days of the Republic of Texas. The area was once home to many hunting tribes,
and was a Franciscan mission in the early 1700s. In 1838 wilderness adventurer
Jacob Harrell started a settlement he called Waterloo, on the banks of the Colorado
River. It was in that year that Harrell took his politician friend Mirabeau
B. Lamar hunting in the surrounding hills. Soon Lamar would become the president
of the young republic. Having fallen in love with the area, Lamar set up Waterloo
as the capitol, despite the congressional commission's view that it was too
dangerous a place for such a distinction.
In 1839, planning and development
for the new seat of power began. Among the first changes made, Waterloo was
given the new name of Austin in honor of Stephen F. Austin, considered the founder
of Texas. Austin would not remain the capitol for long, however, and in 1842
the constant threat of attack from Mexico led Texas president Sam Houston to
move the national archives to a safer place. Houston
was chosen and became home to both the archives and the capital.
Then, in 1844, Anson Jones
won the presidency. Jones called a constitutional convention in 1845 to settle
the issue of Texas being annexed by the USA. Texas became a state and Austin
was once again made its capitol. Five years would pass before the issue would
come around again. In 1850 voters would decide once and for all where the seat
of government would be. The city of Austin put a lot of effort into winning
that decision.
Through the 1850s Austin
also saw a lot of construction. The city was now protected by the US Army, and
the population began to grow. Many of the buildings erected during this time
still stand, some are even in use to this day. Growth slowed by 1861, when Austin
joined the Confederacy. By 1865 the Union Army was firmly established as the
official peace keepers for the Austin area.
The 1870s brought a new
life to the city. The first rail line was developed in 1871, connecting Austin
to the growing United States. In 1876 Austin began plans to build the University
of Texas with the intention of making it the foremost center for higher
education in the state. It would take approximately 7 years to complete and
in 1883 the first 200 students passed through its doors to eight waiting professors.
Seeking to improve the economic
situation, Austin built a dam to profit from the power of the Columbia River.
The dam brought inexpensive energy to residents, and helped irrigate the land,
but the benefits were short lived. Heavy rains destroyed the dam by in the spring
of 1900. The city would strive to recover but it would be 30 years before the
problem would be solved, when not one but six dams were constructed along the
river. These were responsible for all the energy and water Austin could use,
and at the same time created one of the best loved recreational areas in the
state. The Highland Lakes are still considered the jewels of central Texas.
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| Discovering
Oil Changed Austins Future |
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The next major turning point
in Austin's history came in the form of black gold. The University uncovered
vast oil pools in 1923, and this discovery greatly influenced the direction
of the city. Tremendous development and a new faculty earned the young university
a place among the finest schools in the nation. Austin quickly became the meeting
place for brilliant young minds, and the university's discovery has been far
reaching. Scientists from the university founded Tracor, the first high tech
company in the city. Through the 1960s many more high-tech firms such as IBM,
Texas Instruments and the immensely successful Dell Computer Corporation made
their home in Austin, turning it into an epicenter for technological discovery.
The later half of the 20th
century looked bright for the capital. A first class university and the comparatively
higher wages found within the growing technology industry attracted many new
residents. Country music superstar Willie Nelson moved to the fastest growing
city in Texas from Nashville,
Tennessee in the early
1970s, reviving a music scene that began to fade after the 1960s counter culture
revolution dropped from public attention. The resurgence mirrored the bustling
entertainment scene of the previous decade, a scene that gave the world such
luminaries as Janis Joplin. Clubs opened in unoccupied buildings throughout
the city, further bolstering nightlife and the economy. The city enjoyed a new
vitality until the oil and financial industry crashed in the 1980s. The once
booming real estate market took heavy losses, and many office buildings and
high rises were vacant into the 1990s.
In 2000, the city decided
to turn the six empty airplane hangars of the former Robert Mueler airport into
Austin Studios, a film and multimedia studio, complete with set construction
and sound studios. Austin has a long history with American film, and has been
the location for movies starring such entertainment icons as Burt Reynolds,
Dolly Parton, Meg Ryan, John Travolta, Denzel Washington, Natalie Portman and
Rene Zellweger.
CLIMATE
Spring is the rainy season,
especially later spring. Temperatures are fairly mild, and the city is vibrant.
Summers can be humid due to the spring rains, often reaching the low 100s Fahrenheit
(high 30s Celsius). Temperatures drop considerably through the fall and winter
settles in the low 60s Fahrenheit (around 15 º Celsius). The late fall
and early winter are known as flu season, and travelers headed to Austin during
this time are advised to be sure their shots are up to date.
TRANSPORTATION
The I-35 runs right through
Austin, connecting with Dallas
in the north and San
Antonio (the closer of the two) in the south. The I-35 also passes close
to the Austin-Bergstrom
International Airport, which is found just south of downtown. Every
year more than 7 million travelers pass through the gates of the former Air
Force Base, traveling to and from destinations around North America.
From the airport, the I-35
runs directly into downtown Austin. Parking in the downtown is very limited,
but there is no light-rail system running through the city so visitors who decide
to drive downtown be sure to carry ample change for the meters. Traffic in the
city center has been described as "out-of-control", so visitors may
want to consider taking a taxi or city bus to get around. Fortunately, the city
has developed an effective public transportation system. The bus routes are
extensive, and there is a free downtown trolley.
If you are a bit more adventurous,
cycling is a great way to get around the city. Austin is very accommodating
to cyclists.
SIGHTS AND ATTRACTIONS
Austin has many wonders
for its visitors. The State Capitol, in downtown Austin, is surely one of the
most impressive sights in the city. At 300 feet, the domed building is a centerpiece
of the Austin skyline. It helps that this remarkable structure is not surrounded
by the many towering skyscrapers that grace downtown, and it makes quite an
impression when viewed against a mountain backdrop from the lake. Everything
seems to be Texas sized, from the chandeliers to the doors.
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| The
State Capitol |
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Austin loves its architecture,
and hired world-renowned architect Richard Gluckman, creator of the Guggenheim
Museum in Berlin, to envision the new Austin
Museum of Art. Museums
are a favorite among residents here, so the 65 million dollar expense was well
worth it. The 145,000 square foot museum has brought new life to the already
substantial Austin art community. No less than 12 galleries, a cafe, a film
theater and educational programs are available, as this state of the art museum
also doubles as an art school. Visitors can't miss the museum, just look for
the large, translucent glass wall that is used as a backdrop for projecting
video on a large scale.
Other interesting architecture
can be found around town. Sights like postmodern Avante Plaza office
building or the Moonlight
Towers are common. There are actually 17 towers, which light up the
night sky, burning 6,400 watts of power. The oldest lighting system in the country,
built in 1895, these historic attractions are particularly grand during the
Christmas season, when festive lights are strung up the guy wires that support
them.
Another experience not to
be missed is presented by the Texas
State History Museum. The museum details the history of the state, and
houses the only IMAX theater in Austin. The 400 seat IMAX theater shows both
2-D and 3-D films.
Austin is a great city to
have fun in. The self proclaimed "live music capitol of the world" offers something
for all tastes along the famed Sixth Street, where the best performances and
other events can
be found. Also on Sixth Street is the popular O'Shucks
Tamales, known to locals as the Hot Sauce Museum. Hundreds of sauces,
in varyng strengths, can be sampled along with salsas and marinades. Visitors
who like their food with kick should not miss O'Shucks Tamales. There are more
restaurants
per capita than any other city in the US, so visitors are guaranteed to find
something appealing.
There are also more movie
screens per capita here than anywhere else in America, so it is not surprising
that the annual Austin
Film Festival is so popular with locals and tourists alike. The name
is a bit misleading, as the festival is really more of a competition. Still,
films from around the world are presented during the summer, and many people
behind the films can be seen attending. Entertainers like Lyle Lovett, Quentin
Tarentino and Sandra Bullock have made appearances. Writers, directors and producers
also attend, and are often on the celebrity panel during seminars and conferences.
Also of interest is South
Congress Avenue, known to locals as SoCo. SoCo is the place to find
nightclubs for drinking and dancing, hip galleries and retro boutiques, fun
shopping and neat things to take home, much like the shopping
of Sixth Street. As can be expected, South Congress Avenue has many restaurants
to feed hungry and weary shoppers.
The Highland
Lakes region is one of the more popular places for leisure recreation
in the Austin area. This chain of lakes grew out of the dam projects of the
early 1900s, and are especially well liked during Austin's mild winters. Swimming,
scuba diving, boating
and water-skiing rate highly among the favorite activities in this scenic paradise.
The lakes are also a big draw for hikers
and campers, and backcountry
guides are readily available to show new visitors the beauty of the
Austin area. Another exciting opportunity for the out doorsy type is found at
Barton Springs. Every day 27 million gallons of spring water pour into the pool
for a clean and refreshing dip.
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The
City of Austin |
And of course, visitors
can't experience Austin and the great out doors without travelling to the beautiful
Hill Country where it is found. Here visitors can experience the history of
Texas and explore the pristine natural beauty. Sightseers also enjoy the
Lyndon
B. Johnson National Historical Park, honoring his life and service to
his country, and the National
Wildflower Research Center, dedicated to the research and preservation
of America's indigenous plant life.
Perhaps most surprisingly,
Austin is home to the largest colony of bats in any city anywhere in the world.
Hundreds of thousands of bats are known to make their home in the shady places
under the Congress Avenue Bridge crossing Town Lake. Each night through the
summer the sky is filled with over one million bats, a truly impressive sight.
ACCOMMODATION
As can be expected from
the capital of any major state, accommodations
are abundant in Austin. Hotels
range from economy for the budget traveler to ritzy for those with expensive
tastes and wallets. Visitors can stay in historic hotels like the Stephen
F. Austin Hotel,
built in 1924. This hotel was once the home of the bustling Austin social world.
Renovated for the new millennium, it now boasts state of the art amenities and
old world charm. So popular is the Stephen F. Austin Hotel that it gives the
luxurious Driskill
Hotel serious competition. The Driskill Hotel was built in the 1880s
by Colonel Driskill, a former cattle baron who made his fortune, and name, selling
cattle to the Confederacy. His hotel was to be of the same caliber as the top
hotels in the country. Once the only historic lodging in Austin, the Driskill
Hotel may be the finest lodging in the city.
There are also many places
to stay that make great bases for day trips around the Austin area. Resorts
and bed
and breakfast accommodations are common, and keep travelers close to
both downtown Austin and the many sights outside the city.
A less common but no less
popular choice for leisure travelers and adventure seekers comes in the form
of houseboat
rentals. Houseboats make an ideal vacation for long or short term travelers,
and are quite popular with fans of fishing. Houseboats are common during the
warmer summer months, but can also be found during the relatively mild winters.
Different rental agencies have different policies, so renters should be sure
to ask what is included, and what they should bring. Also worth looking into
are the laws concerning operating boats. Anchoring in some areas, for example,
is prohibited, so it is advisable to be sure what is allowed and what is not.
