This Is What Austin Looked Like 100 Years Ago And It May Surprise You
By Elisa Regulski|Published November 10, 2017
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Elisa Regulski
Author
Elisa is a passionate travel writer with over five years of experience. After graduating with a B.F.A in acting from Oklahoma City University, Elisa earned a M.A in mass communication From Texas State University. When she's not writing about all of the amazing places throughout the U.S., she can be heard singing with her band.
Anyone who’s lived in Austin for longer than five years can attest to the rapid change sweeping through this city. Sometimes, it feels like the only constant thing in this city is the construction crane. Even the photos from Austin in the ’70s are hardly recognizable, so it’s hard to imagine what this city looked like in the early 1900s. This is what Austin looked like 100 years ago, and it may surprise you.
Enchanted Rock is more than a million years old, so it shows no drastic sign of change. Thankfully, this humongous pink granite dome in Llano County stands just as majestic as ever.
Barton Springs Pool has been an Austin staple for more than a hundred years, but it's gone through many changes. You won't see the iconic diving board or horde of hippies in this photo from 1900, but the clear, cold water remains.
This old building might look familiar to you. That's right; these arched windows belong to the famous Driskill Hotel. Though this stunning building has gone through many renovations throughout the years, you can still see the striking architectural layout.
The Paramount Theatre is another historic building that's stood proudly in Austin for decades. The above photo shows the first version of this business, The Majestic Theatre, in the year 1925.
In the 1800s, it was illegal to build a structure taller than the Texas State Capitol within the city limits. This way, you could see the stunning building from every angle in town. It's safe to say that, nowadays, this is no longer the case.
Much like Enchanted Rock, Mount Bonnell's epic beauty has not changed much. This is still one of the best places to watch an Austin sunset, but now you'll also take in the views of the massive mansions below.
As the oldest restaurant in Texas, Scholz Garten has seen its fair share of history. If you walk by 1607 San Jacinto Blvd, you can still see this original layout, but this local watering hole has definitely grown throughout the years.
