Austin | Historic Images & Postcards

[AusTxDevelopment]

Originally Posted by the Genral

I can't find it, and I've looked. Perhaps Kevin can locate it.

SO&M did the original design that kept the roof and had the big spiral staircase, archived here: http://us.archello.com/en/project/lo...forming-arts-0

I don't know if that is what you are referring to however.

[drummer]

Originally Posted by MichaelB

Meaning all dirt and no trees??

Joking?

Yes. Definitely yes.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by drummer

Yes. Definitely yes.

[MichaelB]

Originally Posted by AusTxDevelopment

SO&M did the original design that kept the roof and had the big spiral staircase, archived here: http://us.archello.com/en/project/lo...forming-arts-0

I don't know if that is what you are referring to however.

I liked it.... But I also like what we have.
That "ring" is wonderfully Iconic.

I'm sure the "BIG 3" would have loved to have more $$ to have a larger lobby space and the third theatre. As is was, it was very difficult for them to raise enough of the private money that needed to happen when UT kicked them off campus..

[Max Tower]

Get Lost in This 1976 Vision for a New Congress Avenue - Austin Towers

I stumbled upon a handful of articles from the Austin American-Statesman detailing a 1976 proposal for significant modifications to Congress Avenue. The plan was presented to city leaders by John Andrew Gallery, then the dean of the University of Texas School of Architecture.

(...)

A poster from the original presentation was still lying around in his archives, and he was happy to mail it to me. It’s an incredible find, and we think it deserves to be seen.

[KevinFromTexas]

~1974. The Dobie Center was only about 2 years old in this photo, and the Bank of America Center was under construction, though, you can't see it here. Brackenridge Hospital also would have been completed that year.


Texas State Archives - https://www.flickr.com/photos/texass...678332/sizes/l


Texas State Archives - https://www.flickr.com/photos/texass...s/19502048424/


Texas State Archives - https://www.flickr.com/photos/texass...690090/sizes/l


Texas State Archives - https://www.flickr.com/photos/texass...686220/sizes/l

From 1970 or so. You can see 823 Congress under construction here. Just a steel skeleton. I didn't realize it had a steel skeleton. I would have guessed concrete. You can also see the construction elevator up the side of the Dobie Center here.

The skyline was just then starting to grow, but the Capitol would still be the tallest for another 4 years.


Texas State Archives - https://www.flickr.com/photos/texass...027494/sizes/l

[Urbannizer]

Downtown Austin, 1992


Zilker Park, Austin TX by Laguna Beach Bikini, on Flickr


Zilker Park, Austin TX by Laguna Beach Bikini, on Flickr


Zilker Park, Austin TX by Laguna Beach Bikini, on Flickr

[JACKinBeantown]

^^ Wow, that's the Austin I remember from college. Wish I had bought real estate.

[the Genral]

The skyline was one giant squatty potty....er party.

[JoninATX]

Originally Posted by the Genral

The skyline was one giant squatty potty....er party.

I remember growing up that people would tell me Jonathan "Austin doesn't have a skyline, just a few small buildings." This of course was back in the 90's. I bet they would change their minds in a heartbeat if they saw what Austin looks like today.

[The ATX]

Back when anybody could walk up and knock on the Governor's front door. This would be 1909.


https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67...th124314/m1/1/

[The ATX]

I couldn't figure out the location of this 1956 photo. The railroad track was throwing me off. But upon further Googling, the railroad track has long since been removed, and this is the intersection of U.S. 183 and U.S 81 (the future I-35).


https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67...ustin%20aerial

[Homecreek]

Originally Posted by The ATX

I couldn't figure out the location of this 1956 photo. The railroad track was throwing me off. But upon further Googling, the railroad track has long since been removed, and this is the intersection of U.S. 183 and U.S 81 (the future I-35).


https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67...ustin%20aerial

The tracks are still here. That's the Capmetro red line. The corner of Airport Blvd and 35

[wwmiv]

For those who don't remember, Airport at the time was US 183. 183 was not rerouted around the city until much later, so technically both of you are correct: the railroad tracks are still there as the red line and this was the intersection of the contemporaneous US 81 and US 183. Not a single structure in that picture still exists.

[The ATX]

Cool. Knowing that Airport was U.S. 183 makes all the difference. This post card describes the location of the West Winds Motel as U.S. 81 and U.S. 183. It has foam rubber mattresses, wall to wall carpeting and phones in each room!



https://www.cardcow.com/541135/west-...-austin-texas/

[wwmiv]

"2 minutes to downtown, etc."

Not today, Satan, not today.

[KevinFromTexas]

I remember those days. That's right around the time that my interest in architecture and skyscrapers really took off. Our parents always took us downtown. The Capitol grounds were like a playground for my brother and me. I remember chasing crickets on the walkway around the Capitol. We'd head over to the train station and sit and watch trains. I remember even then being curious about how tall each building was. The One American Center was always my favorite. I love the skyline we're getting now, but I miss the days when the buildings in those photos still stood out and represented the entirety of our skyline. I think I appreciated the more then somewhat compared to now where even the new buildings can be lost in the crowd. And I must say, the One American Center was a great tallest building. It was highly visible because of its location and really stood out day and night. It's probably still my favorite building in Austin.

[The ATX]

One more West Wind Motel post.

This 2011 Streetview shows the original driveway and the parking lot in front of the motel pool seen in the old photo.



This more recent post card shows that small palm trees were planted around the pool. The 2011 Streetview shows that some of the palm trees are still there. The palm trees seem to match their post card locations in relationship to the old pool.



If you check Streetview before 2011, a Spa and storage shed business was using the site. If you check the next Streetview after 2011 which is 2013, the driveway and parking lot are gone and 45th St was extended through the site. The 45th St. extension seems to have happened at the same time the nearby In and Out burger was built. But two of the palm trees remain on either side of 45th St. So an old motel pool would be the reason why two palm trees seem to be inexplicably growing at that location. Also, I think the 7-11 building is still there. There is an old convenient store currently occupying that same footprint. But it has been remodeled a few times just during the years Streeetview was available. Here's 2016:

[KevinFromTexas]

That's pretty cool. We pass by there a few times a month on our way to our vet. I've wondered about those palm trees. That lot always seemed funny to me.

[the Genral]

Is the True Blue behind the shop a tattoo parlor that's still there?