DOWNTOWN

 

 

 

 

 

Downtown is the central business district of Austin, Texas. Downtown is located on the north bank of the Colorado River. The approximate borders of Downtown include Lamar Boulevard to the west, Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and the University of Texas at Austin to the north, Interstate 35 to the east, and Lady Bird Lake to the south.

 

With a rich sense of history and a thriving entertainment scene, Downtown is Austin’s beating heart. Late-19th-century architectural landmarks, including the iconic Texas State Capitol (1888) and the Driskill Hotel (1886), mix with modern museums. The story of Downtown Austin began with the Republic of Texas and President Mirabeau B. Lamar in the 1830s. Lamar tapped Edwin Waller to direct the planning and construction of the new town. Waller chose a site on a bluff above the Colorado River, nestled between Shoal Creek to the west and Waller Creek to the east. Three of Waller's original squares survive to this day: Wooldridge Park, Republic Square, and Brush Square.

 

It is where the city's high-rise buildings are located, as well as being the center of government and business for the region. Downtown Austin is currently experiencing a building boom, with many condos and high-rise towers being built. The top three tallest condo buildings west of the Mississippi River are all located in downtown Austin.

 

The sunset-red granite Texas Capitol is the centerpiece of downtown and the surrounding city. Congress Avenue leads right to the tree-lined promenade of the Texas Capitol. Alongside the capital of the state, Austin is also the Live Music Capital of the World. This designation comes from the hundreds of music venues across Austin, as well as signature events like Austin City Limits and ACL Live at the Moody Theater. Lady Bird Lake, surrounded by the Ann & Roy Butler Hike and Bike Trail on both sides, offers a natural outlet from the city. Congress Avenue Bridge, spanning Lady Bird Lake, is home to millions of Mexican free-tailed bats.