Historic Austin Tours

Get out and explore our city’s incredible heritage with our specially curated library of self-guided tours! Our tours are complimented by GPS-enabled bike routes from our friends at Bike Austin that will take you across the city as you explore all that Austin’s incredible historic fabric has to offer.

C-Boys Heart & Soul - 1937

south congress

South Congress has an energy all of its own. From a humble rural road to a world-renowned cultural district, the evolution of South Congress demonstrates the incredible adaptability of Austin’s historic neighborhoods. This 2-mile route features 15 stops along and around the South Congress corridor for explorers on foot.

Green & White Grocery - 1936



East austin barrio landmarks

This self-guided tour was prepared by our Fowler Family Foundation Underrepresented Heritage Interns. Through extensive archival research and outreach to important community members, this project seeks to honor the historic and cultural significance of East Austin's Mexican American community. Read our companion series of of in-depth blog posts on several of these sites HERE.

Della Phillips House - 1964 (Lauren Kerr)

Della Phillips House - 1964 (Lauren Kerr)

 

Rogers-Washington-Holy Cross: Black Heritage, living history

This tour is a companion piece to our 2021 Virtual Homes Tour. It showcases homes featured in the film as well as East Austin sites with important ties to this historic postwar community. To get the full 2021 Virtual Homes Tour experience, watch the virtual tour on Preservation Austin’s YouTube channel HERE before you head out!

St. Martin’s Lutheran Church - 1960

St. Martin’s Lutheran Church - 1960

Historic Austin Churches

This 12-mile bike route explores some of Central and East Austin’s amazing historic churches, spanning various denominations and architectural styles, including David Chapel, Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church, and St. David’s Episcopal.

Cambridge Towers - 1965 (Leonid Furmansky)

Cambridge Towers - 1965 (Leonid Furmansky)

 

Downtown Doorsteps

This 5-mile bike route and walking tour is a companion piece to Downtown Doorsteps, our 2020 Virtual Homes Tour. The route features stops at featured homes and historic sites in between, including the Paramount Theatre, Westgate Tower, and the Bremond Block Historic District. To get the full Downtown Doorsteps experience, watch the virtual tour on Preservation Austin’s YouTube channel HERE before you head out!

otocast tours

Preservation Austin's free Historic Austin Tours series through the Otocast app allows users to experience Austin's history and culture as never before. These self-guided audio-visual tours explore the city's heritage through narrated histories and historic photographs. Grab your cellphone, download the app, and Austin's fascinating past will be at your fingertips!

All tours are available through Otocast. Download today through iTunes or Google Play.

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series includes:

  • AFRICAN AMERICAN AUSTIN, including Rosewood Courts and the Modernist works of John S. Chase, FAIA

  • AUSTIN’S POSTWAR BOOM, featuring the mid-century heritage of Allandale, Brentwood, and Crestview

  • CONGRESS AVENUE, including the Capitol complex and Paramount Theatre

  • EAST SIXTH STREET, including the Driskill Hotel and Alamo Ritz

  • ICONIC MUSIC VENUES, including the Victory Grill and Broken Spoke

  • OLD WEST AUSTIN, including the Castle and Moonlight Towers

  • TEJANO TRAIL, including Cristo Rey Catholic Church and Zavala Elementary

HISTORIC AUSTIN TOURS ARE MADE POSSIBLE BY:

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ADDITIONAL SUPPORT BY:

Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas | The Creekmore and Adele Fath Charitable Foundation
Lucy Perez Photography | Tenderling Design