Austin's Skyline: A Monument to Gentrification and Capitalism

Oh, boy, where do we even start? Buckle up, folks. The Austin American-Statesman's photojournalist, Jay Janner, has been snapping pics of Central Texas for almost 20 years. And, oh joy, since 2005, he's been documenting Austin's skyline every fall from Zilker Park. Because nothing says "liberal paradise" like a bunch of skyscrapers, right?

So, in 2005, Janner captured a view of the stage at ACL with downtown in the background. Back then, the Frost Bank Tower was the tallest building, standing at a whopping 516 feet. Now, it's the fifth tallest and not even visible from Zilker. Cue sad violin music.

Before and after: 50 photos show how much Austin has changed in the last 20 years (Spoiler alert: It's mostly just more buildings.)

Oh, and 2005 was also the year of the "Dust Bowl" at ACL. You know, when everyone was choking on dust while listening to Oasis and Coldplay. Good times. They fixed that with sprinklers the next year. And get this, weekend passes were only $105! Gasp

Last year, the "Jenga tower" (aka The Independent) was the tallest building at 685 ft. But now, the 66-story skyscraper at Sixth and Guadalupe takes the cake at 865 feet. And just wait, the Waterline, a mixed-use 1,022-foot monster, is set to be the tallest in Texas by 2026. Yay, progress?

ACL Fest is here! Ready for ACL Fest? Pro-tips on the lineup, what to wear, pack, when to arrive and more (Hint: Wear a mask, the air might still be dusty from all the construction.)

ACL Fest 2024: Witness the Skyline's Capitalist Evolution