Texas History: Whataburger, Cotton Eyed Joe, and the Astrodome

Retired city planner Jim Duncan has written over 600 short histories of Austin businesses in his series, “Jim Duncan’s Austin.” This week’s highlights include the Hofheintz-Reissig Compound, the Robinson-Rosner Building, and Peter Pan Mini-Golf.

Located at East Third and Red River streets, the Hofheintz-Reissig Compound (also called the Waterloo Compound) was originally developed for J. Henry Hofheintz, a German immigrant who built a log cabin and corncrib in the 1850s. Later, his son-in-law Adolph Gustav “Dutchy” Reissig replaced the cabin with a saloon and domino parlor in 1892. The complex remained in the Reissig family until 1952. Today, the elevated comfort food eatery Moonshine occupies part of the compound. READ MORE AT THE AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN

Whataburger’s iconic orange-and-white A-frame design traces back to founder Harmon Dobson, an aviation enthusiast who wanted his restaurants visible from the sky. Founded in Corpus Christi in 1950, Whataburger now has 1,138 locations across 17 U.S. states, with 763 in Texas. READ MORE AT MYSA.COM

Isaac Sweat, known as “Mr. Cotton-Eyed Joe,” was born on July 19, 1944, in Port Arthur. His 1980s vocal cover of the instrumental standard “Cotton-Eyed Joe” became a hit. Sweat grew up surrounded by music, learning banjo, guitar, and bass before attending Lamar University. READ MORE AT THE BEAUMONT ENTERPRISE

The Astrodome, the first air-conditioned domed stadium in the U.S., opened in 1965. Today, the facility stands as a relic of its former glory, with its famous domed roof still intact. READ MORE AT THE HOUSTON CHRONICLE