Ditto to all the other comments. We hiked here from Peter Pan mini golf. It was pretty easy to…read morefind and a good stop on our urban hike. Since its mutilation some years ago it is not so imposing but go feel its heart and the souls of those from yesteryear. There are a couple of benches to ponder on.

This tree is amazing. From the plaque in front of the tree…read more.. "Estimated to have been a majestic tree of about 100 years when Columbus first landed on north American shores, this live oak tree has been pronounce the most perfect specimen of a tree in North America, and it's picture hangs in the Hall of Fame of Forestry at Washington. Formerly standing as the center of a group of trees called "The Council Oaks," this tree takes its name from its role in the history of the Lone Star State. Stephen F. Austin is reputed to have signed the first boundary line agreement between Indians and whites under the canopy of its branches; battles and important conferences have been planned, pacts signed, and feasts and religion religious ceremony celebrated in its shade. The Treaty Oak was purchased by the city of Austin in 1937 to stand as a living and fitting symbol of the mighty state it has watched develop.

great building beautiful don't park there they will give you a ticket even if you are right thereread more

Recently saw this Beautiful Home on a Haunted House Tour . The Littlefield House belonged to the…read moreLittlefields who built the Mansion at the original cost of $50000. Its said to be haunted by Mrs Littlefiield . The home is currently owned by the University of Texas!

It is enjoyable visiting Mansfield Dam located in Austin, TX because of the spectacular views and…read morepeaceful atmosphere surrounding Lake Travis. Many years ago, you were allowed to walk on the dam. However, now due to safety reasons, you can only view it from afar. Mansfield Dam is owned and operated by the Lower Colorado River Authority (LCRA), a public organization that manages water, power, and flood control along the lower Colorado River in Texas. The history... Central Texas experienced severe and frequent flooding in the early 20th century, which caused extensive damage and loss of life. This created a strong need for a flood-control system. The dam was completed in 1942 and was originally named Marshall Ford Dam. In 1941, it was renamed Mansfield Dam in honor of U.S. Representative J.J. Mansfield, who helped secure support and funding for the project. When the dam was completed, it created Lake Travis, which became the largest reservoir in the Highland Lakes chain.

It's been a while since I've been to the Mansfield Dam. 3 years ago. Had a picnic then too…read more I drive over the bridge twice a day to and from work. Stopping by for the view is always on my mind. We've had some gloom days with clouds and rain last week. Not as bad as they made it out to be. Today was simply gorgeous. So after work, I grabbed my favorite pizza from Slice of Austin on 620. Came to the Dam, sat at a picnic table, and had a picnic. There was a slight breeze, the sun was out. The sky was blue. Just a gorgeous view with some good food. I was the only one there. So peaceful. So relaxing. Need to do this for myself more often.

The Congress Avenue Bridge was renamed in honor of former Governor Ann W. Richards. She was the…read more45th Governor of the State of Texas from 1991 to 1995. The bridge has pedestrian and bike paths from Cesar Chavez Avenue to Riverside Drive. If you look below you can see boats, kayaks and paddleboats passing by on the Lady Bird Lake (Colorado River). During March to October, you can see a colony of Brazilian free-tail bats swarm from underneath the bridge at dusk. If you continue North on Congress Avenue, it will lead you to the State Capitol (10,000 steps marker is noted on the ground). The day I walked the route it was 91° and quite humid. It was a struggle for me and I had to take a break. Joggers and others walking their dogs zoomed right past me! Nonetheless, I did make the trek at a snail's pace and it was a beautiful day. From this vantage point you can see the Lake, trees, and Austin skyline. Sincerely, Rosemary (from So. California).

I spend a lot of time on this bridge, either driving over it, walking it, etc…read more It's well-maintained and easy to walk across to take in views of this part of the city. Of course, it's a great spot to watch bats since it is dubbed the "bat bridge". I like to bring out-of-town visitors to the bridge for just that reason.

You Don't Need to Go to Ellis Island to See the Statue of Liberty…read more.. Surprised to see a small replica of the Statue of Liberty in Austin. Apparently, the Boy Scouts of America created and installed over 200 copies of the Statue of Liberty across the United States between 1949 and 1951. Four were installed in Texas. Who knew?

This cemetery is located on a side road just a stones throw away from RM - 620. What's really…read moreunique about this cemetery is that all the graves look as though they were "do it yourself" projects. These plots are well carved out on the sloping limestone hillside. Many of the gravesites have used the natural materials of the Hill country and embellished them with some personal items. This is still an active cemetery with many recent graves, however, I did not spot any markers from the 1800s. For the most part, the cemetery is well manicured and taken care of, and even has a paved road, running through it from the front gate to the rear gate. The graves and family plots are randomly arranged according to the topography of the hillside. Access to the property is simple with just an unlocked gate and a low perimeter wall. Many of the decedents here may well be associated with the Whitestone church just 100 feet away. There is also a recently built columbarium for those who wish to store their ashes here. Normally, this would be a nice quiet place in the country, but that's not the case with the noisy traffic on 620. I did not spot any Texas historical sign nor any information on making this your forever home. This is most likely a private cemetery, not a city one and I even spotted a grave where someone had their dog buried next to them. Informative photos below.

The University of Texas at Austin tower (UT Tower) sits at the center of the University of Texas at…read moreAustin. Every path seemingly leads toward the Tower. The UT Tower was completed 1937 (307 feet tall). The Tower has long been the visual focal point of UT since I can remember...generational link between students, faculty, alumni and visitors. The inscription across the front state, "Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free." I remember being on campus when the Tower rang for the first time...it's distinctive...it's memorable. It commands attention. The first time I heard the UT Tower clock ring, I immediately stopped. Also, it is absolutely nothing like experiencing the UT Tower lit up in orange after UT wins an athletic game. For students, the burnt orange glow becomes an emotional symbol for unity (one student body...one unified purpose), achievement (game won) and pride (as a student you can walk by another UT student and nod to them...each knows what it means). The UT Tower was originally constructed to house the university's central library stacks. Today, it is a working building filled with administrative offices and specialized collections. Unfortunately, the tower also represents an unpleasant memory. The University of Texas Tower shooting occurred on August1,1966, when a gunman fired from the observation deck of the UT Tower onto the campus below killing 15 people on campus and injured many others. UT survived this horrific incident and bonded even more so as a community. UT Austin is undergoing a multi year, $70 million restoration project to preserve and renew the Tower. While the UT Tower is built from materials, for me, it will always be a symbol of pride and hope.

While there was some construction around the UT Tower we were able to get close enough to it to get…read moresome good pictures we also learned the history of the building and the tragic mass shooting in 1966 when we took the city bus tour a few days before. The building is very impressive and really stands out on the campus. I imagine decades ago it would be more visible at other vantage points but even when I was in Austin about twenty years ago for the first time it didn't seem nearly as built up as when we were here on our latest visit and I do realize I have heard all sorts of comments that Austin is a city growing in leaps in bounds ( or was several years ago, pre-covid) but with all of the new buildings the UT Tower may be just a tad more obscured than it may once have been. Anyway I definitely recommend taking a look at it as it is a slice of Austin history.

The small cemetery sits in a mostly empty 1 acre field right next to 969. It's a small family…read morecemetery with some rich history behind it. There are two photos below of Texas historical signs which you tell you you all you need to know. It's immediate neighbors are a Dollar General, the village hall, and the Ebeneezer Church. There was one other grave cast in concrete about 10 feet from the main plot. It was hard to read with very little information. For the most part, this small plot seems relatively well cared for, although a little overgrown. For those interested in local Texas history, it's worth a visit. Informative photos and video below.