Austin | Historic Images & Postcards

[the Genral]

Wow, that's a tough call. I think I would prefer to save the building if it could be restored to looked like it did when it was built even though it technically wouldn't be original anymore. But as it stands now, all bets are off, make room for progress. The inside of the structure may be more original than the outside, but most of us will never see the inside.

[LoneStarMike]

Some cool old postcards (with commentary) in this article

Time-Traveling by Postcard
By Jeffrey S. Kerr
The Austin Post
August 30, 2012

Long ago my dabbling in Austin history introduced me to the rich array of historic postcards portraying our city’s past. I bought my first Austin postcard – which depicts an early scene along Mount Bonnell Road – for $5 on Ebay. I have since amassed three albums of local postcards dating back to the 1890s, most obtained for less than $5 apiece. Certain landmarks stand out in any era - the Capitol, Congress Avenue and downtown skyline views are notable examples - while other, more obscure landmarks cause one to wonder just what they were thinking back then. Even cards featuring the odd scenes help shed light on Austin’s former cultural landscape, especially if there is a written message on the back. Let’s take a look at some snapshots of the past.

[Mopacs]

Found some (relatively) old shots I took back in 2005. This includes the sites of the Austonian and JW Marriott (prior to clearing the existing buildings).



JW Marriott site, bottom-right and Austonian, upper-left.



West 2nd at San Antonio (AMLI and W Hotel lots)

[KevinFromTexas]

Cool. I miss your photos from back in the day when they were building Frost. Watching the crown come together really was an interesting time in downtown.

[Mopacs]

Thanks Kevin. Hard to believe it's been over 10 years since construction started. Perhaps I'll begin a series of posts as a commemoration. These shots were taken in late March 2002:

[KevinFromTexas]

Originally Posted by Mopacs

Thanks Kevin. Hard to believe it's been over 10 years since construction started. Perhaps I'll begin a series of posts as a commemoration. These shots were taken in late March 2002:

I still have 4 of those "Congress at Fourth" signs (the blue ones on the construction walkways). I have one above my headboard on my bed as a matter of fact. I wonder which ones of those are mine. haha

[KevinFromTexas]

This is so cool.

This photo from the 1920's hangs in our office: Frank Trlica, paperboy for the Austin American-Statesman

Statesman Photo and Video - via Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...9002039&type=3


Statesman Photo and Video - Via Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?...9002039&type=3

[KevinFromTexas]

Oct 1981 view of the Austin skyline from Oak Hill looking northeast

http://www.flickr.com/photos/oz4cast...n/photostream/

[JoninATX]

Seems like yesterday that frost broke ground. As a matter of fact Frost Tower is one of the first buildings that got me into skyscrapers.

[gmsalpha]

Any chance of getting current day photos from the same vantage points as the ones posted above of the Frost Tower to compare before/after? Frost was just starting construction when I left Austin, so a lot has changed, but thanks to all the updates, I almost feel like I'm there. Lol.

[LoneStarMike]

On the City's website, there is a index page of old photos of Barton Springs Pool. There's around 50 or so photos, but you have to click on each hyperlink to view each photo.

And from Youtube, a 50-second excerpt from a 1969 fil about Austin called To Market To Market in Austin, Texas. There's not much to the skyline, back then (Capitol, Castillian, and UT Tower) and the end there's a quick shot driving south on Congress Avenue away from the Capitol.

• Video Link

[Mopacs]

Here are some of my old scans of magazine ads from the mid-80s.

One Congress Plaza... Too bad they didn't build the small extension to the left. Would have stood flush against portions of Congress and 2nd Street.



This tower never saw the light of day. Lamar Savings went down in flames a year or two later. (would have gone up at the current site of 300 W 6th).



Proposed Austin City Hall complex in the mid-80s, at the current W Hotel site.





Wyndham Hotel at the Arboretum (now a Renaissance)



Baller

[wwmiv]

I am so glad that City Hall complex was not built AND I am so glad that that hideous Lamar Savings tower was canned.

[KevinFromTexas]

I wonder if there had been any plan to have retail in that portion of One Congress Plaza that stepped down to Congress. It no doubt would have added a lot of space, too. One Congress Plaza is already the 2nd largest office building in downtown with 534,191 square feet. With that addition it surely would have pushed it past Frost Bank Tower which has 546,000 square feet. It would probably be close to 600,000 square feet.

[MichaelB]

Notice. ON the second photo of the city hall complex ( which I am also glad was not built) The lower right had corner.... there are two views of "Laguna Gloria"... i.e., the frist design for the Austin Museum of Art Downtown. That was to be were the AMILI building on 2nd west of the W is now. Looks like that was the Robert A.M. Stern version. Not that one was a "too bad".It was very 80s, but the good kind ( yes, all eras have there highs and lows) I liked some of the later designs better, especially the Gluckman. But Alas, none happened.

[KevinFromTexas]

I've been pouring over old photos lately trying to get an accurate list of what years building's started construction. Anyway, I noticed in one photo that was taken in 1959 that showed the Brown Building, that it looked like two floors were under construction. The building today has 10 floors, but I also found some old photos that showed the building with only 8 floors. The Brown Building was built in 1938.

This photo shows it with only 8 floors.

Does you 'member when? Austin, Texas Version - via Facebook

The date on this photo says October 1, 1959. It clearly shows 2 floors being added on the building.

http://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/675...ustin,%20texas

[Armybrat]

That's what Austin looked like when I got here (January, 1959)

[KevinFromTexas]

More here: - http://blog.austinkids.org/2010/10/2...ol_restoratio/

[The ATX]

Best Austin picture ever posted.

[lzppjb]

Nice!