City of Austin History

1838: Austin was recommended as the site for the new capital by Mirabeau B. Lamar, Vice President of the young Republic of Texas. Lamar dreamed that the beautiful area around Waterloo, a city that once stood on the banks of the Colorado River, would become “the seat of a future empire.” As president of the Republic in 1839, Lamar recommended the site to a congressional commission appointed to pick the new capital. Despite Sam Houston’s objections, the commission chose Lamar’s site, now present-day Austin.

1840: Austin population is 856.

1881: Austin public schools admit their first classes.

1882: The cornerstone for Old Main, the first building at UT, was dedicated Nov. 17. The following September, the first 221 UT students attended class.

1888: On May 16 the Capitol building was dedicated.

1893: The Great Granite Dam on the Colorado River is constructed. This dam would later be replaced by a series of government-funded dams.

1917: Barton Springs Pool becomes part of the city park, which would be later known as Zilker Park.

1941: Lake Travis is created by the impounding of the Colorado River and the completion of Mansfield Dam.

1982: The 360 bridge is erected.