|
|
| 6th Street | Barton Springs |
State Capitol | Hill Country |
6th Street Likely Texas' best known
street, the seven block's of 6th Street between Congress and IH 35 are certainly Austin's
entertainment center. With a little help from it's many like-minded sister streets, 6th Street
is the heart of Austin's live entertainment scene and the capital of third coast music.
Sixth Street (formerly known as Pecan Street) is lined with many historical houses and
commercial buildings dating from the late 1800's and early 1900's. The storied old buildings now
house numerous bars, a host of live entertainment venues, tattoo parlors, art galleries, casual
cafes, upscale restaurants, and the elegant Driskill Hotel. Live music of every genre abounds.
From jazz, blues, and country to rock, hip-hop, beat, progressive, metal, punk and derivations
of these, there's something to whet everyone's musical palette. Great food is a staple on Sixth
Street, featuring such regional staples as chili, ribs, and Tex-Mex plus steak, seafood,
Cajun-cooking, and deli.
Sixth Street draws an eclectic bunch including endless streams of mostly single UT students, the
YUP's, the burb's, some interesting street folk, and lot's of out of town visitors. It's not
uncommon to spy some celebrity type taking in the sights on 6th. From film folk to politicians,
to music men and women, Sixth Street rubs elbows well. Dress code, yeah right. You'll see
cowboys and punks, surfers and suits. On Halloween anything goes, and during Mardi Gras,
everything goes!
Going West from the entertainment area, West Sixth Street offers another surprise with antique
stores, art galleries, hair salons, restaurants, and lot's of eclectic shops.
Sixth Street is Austin's entertainment showpiece, and deservedly so. Great events like the
Austin Mardi Gras celebration, SXSW, The Republic of Texas Bikers Rally, the Pecan Street
Festival and Sixth's Street infamous Halloween celebration all make for great times with great
people.
Top
Barton Springs Within Zilker
Park's 358 acres, lies one of the crown jewels of Austin, Barton Springs Pool. Three acres in
size, the pool is fed from under ground springs and is on average 68 degrees year round. Over
the years, Barton Springs Pool has drawn people from all walks of life, from legislators who
have concocted state laws there to free-spirited topless sunbathers who turned heads in the
seventies. Even Robert Redford learned to swim at the pool when he was five years old while
visiting his mother's relative in Austin. Today, Barton Springs still attracts a diverse crowd
of people.
Millions of years ago Barton Springs, the fourth largest natural springs in the state, was
created as a result of a land shift that created the Balcones Fault.
Named in honor of Andrew Jackson Zilker. "Colonel Andy", as friends called him, donated the land
now known as Zilker Park. In 1884, at age 18, Zilker, who had left his native Indiana to seek
his fortune, came to Austin with only 50 cents in his pocket and got a job at an ice plant,
which he eventually bought. He then became the first Coca-Cola Bottler in Austin. Shortly after
Zilker bought the land in 1901, he built a small concrete pool and amphitheater for members of
his Elks Club organization, at the site of one of the three springs, where people had gathered
for centuries.
Native Americans called them the Sacred Springs and came there to heal their wounds. Spanish
friars believed to be the first European settlers in the Austin area set up three temporary
missions at the springs in 1730-31 before they moved to San Antonio. In 1837, William "Uncle
Billy" Barton, built his rustic cabin on a tract of land which included the springs. Since he
owned several adjoining tracts, the area came to be known as the "Bartons". He named the three
springs after his daughters Parthenia, Eliza and Zenobia. The largest spring became known as the
main spring at Barton Springs Pool. Another spring feeds the Elks Amphitheater pool that Zilker
built near the present day Barton Springs Pool. A third spring bubbles up from the Sunken Garden
on the east side of the park.
Between 1917 and 1934, A.J. Zilker donated his land along the south bank of the Colorado in
stages, to the Public Free Schools of Austin on the condition that the city of Austin buy the
tract from the public schools for inflated prices. School officials placed money from the sale
in a trust fund for manual training for what is known today as the school-to-work-program.
Barton Springs Pool has been a popular swimming hole for decades, but even more people showed up
once it became part of a city park in 1917. In 1929, workers enlarged the irregular-shaped pool
to 1,000 feet long by building a concrete lower dam and sidewalks on both banks. In 1932, the
city added an upper dam. Over the years the springs has been the site of a flour mill, a source
of drinking water for many citizens and a popular location for baptisms, family picnics, social
gatherings, musical performances, fishing and swimming.
Many approach a dip in Barton Springs Pool's chilly 68 degrees water with a religious zeal.
Devotees relish swimming in the roomy expanse of spring water, framed by century-old pecan
trees. Those who plunge down under the diving board to look at the main spring, which pumps an
average of 27 million gallons of water a day, say that the pulsating action reminds them of a
steady heartbeat.
In 1943, Jean Parker was the first women lifeguard at Barton Springs. Members of the Texas Pool
and Beach Association decided at the conclusion of their annual conference of park and
recreation authorities to allow women to lifeguard, because most eligible men had entered the
armed forces. This was the beginning of the change from the traditional "big husky lifeguards
watching over the flocks to beautiful girls gracing the lifeguard towers over the nations
pools."
Beverly Sheffield, who served as director of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department from
1946-1973, swam at Barton Springs for 73 years, longer than any of today's regular swimmers. He
began when he was 10 years old and on into his 80s, Sheffield continued to go the pool three
days a week, weather permitting until his death.
In 1992, 2 University of Texas scientists, filed an emergency petition seeking federal
protection of the Barton Springs salamander. Zoologist, Mark Kirkpatrick and his geologist wife,
Barbara Mahler, prepared the petition under auspices of the Save Barton Creek Association and
The Hill Country Foundation. This petition was filed with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services,
which has authority to list wildlife under the federal Endangered Species Act. In 1998, the U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service named the Barton Springs salamander as an Endangered Species.
The only known surface habitats of the Barton Springs salamander (Eurycea sosorum) are located
in Barton Springs pool, Eliza Springs, Old Mill Springs (Sunken Garden) and Upper Barton
Springs. The salamander is lung less and relies on a pair of conspicuous red gills located
behind the head for efficient gas exchange. Currently the City of Austin and the U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service are working together to support operation of the pool while protecting this
species.
Top
State Capitol Taller than the US
Capitol, the Texas State Capitol and Capitol Grounds are one of the most popular tourist
attractions in the capital of Texas and a favorite spot for the locals as well. Other nearby
sights within easy walking distance include the Governor's Mansion and the new Bob Bullock Texas
State History Museum.
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.
Top
Hill Country The Texas Hill Country
is a beautiful 14,000 square mile area in the heart of Texas. You'll want to visit each of the
region's 45 cities/areas.
Imagine a place where crystal clear streams and towering oak & cedar trees meet the majesty of
the hills. Add to the beauty, a place where visitors are always greeted by a friendly "howdy
y'all" and you have found the wonder of the Texas Hill Country. It's is a little slice of heaven
offering breathtaking beauty and a relaxing atmosphere. The Texas Hill Country is truly just
like a whole other state.
This beautiful area welcomes 5 million visitors annually. It's easy to see why people keep
coming back again and again. The Texas Hill Country offers unparalleled diversity. In the
spring, roadsides and open fields are dotted with colorful wildflowers, from the Indian
Paintbrush to the Texas state flower, the Bluebonnet. (In Hill Country, Texas Shows Its Colors,
New York Times - Apr 15, 2004). Autumn brings vibrant reds, oranges and yellows as leaves
announce the start of a new season. Summer is a time for tubing down the river, boating on one
of the many area lakes or enjoying an outdoor barbecue. Winter is mild with a touch of cool air,
ideal for viewing the thousands of Christmas lights residents display.
Top |
|
