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Learn Black Austin History Now

Juneteenth should be a day of learning. Black history is Austin's history. Here's a list of sites and monuments dedicated to Black heritage and the struggle for equality.

Published June 13, 2024 at 9:01am by Michael Barnes


Here is a concise rewrite of the article:

Celebrating Black history and reflecting on the meaning of Juneteenth? Here are some places in Austin, Texas that resonate with early Black history:

  • George Washington Carver Museum and Cultural Center (1165 Angelina St.): Dedicated to African American history and culture in Austin, the center includes a library, museum, and genealogical resources.
  • Austin History Center (810 Guadalupe St.): Offers insights into the city's past, including an upcoming event featuring scholar Tara Dudley discussing pioneering architect John Chase. More info
  • Texas African American History Memorial (Capitol grounds): A complex statue by Ed Dwight commemorating Juneteenth, depicting multiple dimensions of Black life in Texas.
  • Evergreen Cemetery (3304 E. 12th St.): Established in 1926, this graveyard is the final resting place for members of prominent Black families. It also includes Highland Park Cemetery, designated for all races since 1891.
  • Hezikiah Haskell House (1705 Waterston Ave.): Home of a Union army veteran and "Buffalo soldier" in the historically Black Clarksville neighborhood, one of Austin's freedom colonies established by independent, land-owning African Americans.
  • Six Square: Austin's Black Cultural District (Bounded by Manor Rd, E 7th St, Airport Blvd, and I-35): A nonprofit dedicated to preserving and promoting Austin's historically Black district, offering guided tours and cultural programs. sixsquare.org
  • Huston-Tillotson University (900 Chicon St.): Founded in 1875, this historically Black college has a rich history and reminders of Austin's cultural heritage on its campus.
  • African American Cultural and Heritage Facility (912 E. 11th St.): Located on East 11th Street, the heart of Austin's Black cultural life in the 20th century, this facility hosts various activities and boasts impressive murals and art.
  • Downs Field (2816 E. 12th St.): The former home of the Austin Black Senators and the Huston-Tillotson Rams, where legends like Satchel Paige and Willie Mays played.
  • Rosewood Park (300 Rosewood Ave.): Site of numerous Juneteenth celebrations, featuring the Henry G. Madison cabin and Doris Miller Auditorium, named after a WWII hero.
  • Neill-Cochran House Museum (2310 San Gabriel St.): Houses one of the only intact slave quarters in Austin, recently renovated with interpretative materials and murals.
  • French Legation (802 San Marcos St.): Likely built by enslaved workers, this historic residence is now run by the Texas Historical Commission, offering insights into its past.
  • Ebenezer Baptist Church (1010 E 10th St.): Faith home of prominent Black Austin leaders, including the late Judge Harriet Murphy, a friend of MLK Jr. and Thurgood Marshall.
  • Wesley United Methodist Church (1164 San Bernard St.): Founded in 1865, this congregation has a rich history, producing countless leaders. A Texas historical marker outside addresses the dark history of lynching in Travis County.
  • Victory Grill (1104 E. 11th St.): Once one of the hottest nightclubs and restaurants on East 11th Street, the heart of East Austin's commercial and entertainment scene, now preserved as a community space.
  • Wooldridge Square Park (900 Guadalupe St.): Preserves the legacy of Booker T. Washington, who spoke here, and Rev. Jacob Fontaine, whose church once faced the square.
  • John S. and Drucie R. Chase Building (1191 Navasota St.): A mid-century design by John S. Chase, the first Black student to graduate from UT's School of Architecture and Texas' first licensed Black architect.
  • Briscoe Center for American History (2300 Red River St.): A UT museum showcasing the broader story of African Americans, with exhibits and archival materials.
  • LBJ Presidential Library (2313 Red River St.): Documents Lyndon B. Johnson's role in passing major civil rights bills, including permanent exhibits on his congressional and presidential careers.
  • Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum (1800 Congress Ave.): Features recently updated exhibits on slavery, the Civil War, and Reconstruction, along with early Texas history.
  • Moore-Hancock Farmstead (4811 Sinclair Ave.): The oldest log structure in its original location in Austin, with a pre-and post-Civil War African American presence. Open for public tours on February 25, 2-4 pm.

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Read more: For Juneteenth, visit these sites to learn about Black history in Austin