TEXAS STATE CAPITOL

The Texas Capitol is an extraordinary example of late 19th century public architecture and is widely recognized as one of the nation's most distinguished state capitols. It was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1970 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1986 for its "significant contribution to American history."

Sited on one of Austin's highest points, the Capitol anchors the northern periphery of the downtown commercial district and commands a sweeping view towards the Colorado River from its southern façade. The main campus of The University of Texas at Austin is situated four blocks to the north. Wonderful views of the Capitol's dome from many vantage points throughout the Austin area are protected from obscuration by state law.

Completed in 1888 as the winning design from a national competition, the Capitol's style is Renaissance Revival, based on the architecture of 15th-century Italy and characterized by classical orders, round arches and symmetrical composition. The structural exterior is "sunset red" granite, quarried just 50 miles from the site. Additional structural support is provided by masonry walls and cast iron columns and beams. The foundation is limestone. Texas paid for the construction not in dollars, but in land: some three million acres in the Texas Panhandle that would later become the famous XIT Ranch.

An extraordinary edifice by any measure, the 1888 Texas Capitol is the largest in gross square footage of all state capitols and is second in total size only to the National Capitol in Washington, D.C. Like several other state capitols, the 1888 Texas Capitol surpasses the National Capitol in height, rising almost 15 feet above its Washington counterpart.

In 1993, the $75 million underground Capitol Extension was completed to the north, doubling the square footage available to Capitol occupants and providing much improved functionality. In 1995, a comprehensive interior and exterior restoration of the original building was completed at a cost of approximately $98 million. Finally, in 1997, the park-like grounds surrounding the Capitol were given a much needed $8 million renovation and restoration.

More Information:
The Texas State Capitol looks South down Congress Avenue. 11th Street runs East-West past the front gates. Colorado and San Jacinto Streets border it to the West and East.

Contact/Hours:
Texas State Capitol
Austin, Texas
512-305-8400 (Visitors Center)
512-463-0063 (Tour Guide Office)

Visitor Parking is available in the parking garage at San Jacinto and 12th Street.
Hours for Visitors Center: Mon-Sat, 9am-5pm, Sun Noon-5pm
Hours for Capitol & Extension: M-F 7am-10pm | S/S 9am-8pm
Hours for Capitol Tour Guide Office: M-F 8am-5pm | Sat 9:30am-3:30pm; Sun Noon-3:30pm

The Texas State Capital website is located at - http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/tspb.htm

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The Capitol Visitors Center

The Capitol Visitors Center is housed in the General Land Office Building. Built in 1856-57, it is the oldest state office building in Texas. From 1858 to 1918, the building served as the headquarters for the General Land Office (GLO), the agency charged with overseeing the vast tracts of public lands in Texas.

In 1989, the State Preservation Board initiated a renovation project to restore the building. The building opened in 1994 as the Capitol Visitors Center with the goal of educating visitors about the history of Texas, the Capitol and the General Land Office. The State Preservation Board now maintains the building and oversees the public programming and retail operations within it.

Texas Capitol Visitors Center
112 East 11th Street
P.O. Box 13286
Austin, Texas 78711

Phone 512.305.8400
Fax 512.305.8401

The Capitol Visitor's Center website is located at: www.texascapitolvisitorscenter.com <http://www.texascapitolvisitorscenter.com>