Culture of Austin. Places to visit - old town, temples, theaters, museums and palaces

Planning an interesting excursion program in Austin shouldn’t be a problem. The city has architectural monuments of various periods, original museums, as well as spots for fans of unusual tours. Texas State Capitol is considered one of the city’s main symbols. It is a large-scale architectural and park complex covering an area of more than 22 acres. Completed in 1888, the Capitol is now available for guided tours.

You will have the opportunity to admire its rich interiors designed back in the late 19th century. One of the halls houses a small museum, which displays a collection of interesting historical exhibits. The landscaped adjacent territory with a garden is of great interest too. Here you can see not only beautiful landscape decorations but also many symbolic monuments. It is also worth noting that all tours of the Capitol are free of charge.

A unique cultural center is the University of Texas at Austin, which keeps 7 museums of various profiles and 17 libraries under one roof. It is here that you can find the Blanton Museum of Art that has gathered a collection of over 17,000 works. You will have a chance to see paintings by famous American, Latin American, and European artists. For the convenience of visitors, the huge collection of the museum is divided into thematic expositions, while several more rooms are used for temporary exhibitions. Copyright www.orangesmile.com

It’d also be interesting to check out the Harry Ransom Center located at the same university. It is notable for the collection of rare old books and printed materials. The center has several halls with interesting historical collections. One of the most valuable exhibits of the cultural center is the Gutenberg Bible, which was printed in the middle of the 15th century. You will also have a chance to see collections of old photographs, historical documents, and household items that locals used hundreds of years ago.

The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum invites tourists to get acquainted with the state’s historical past. Besides historical exhibits, its rooms are rich in modern interactive ones. You can even visit an ultra-modern cinema that shows themed documentaries every day. A very interesting collection of exhibits is dedicated to the Indian tribes who inhabited the territory of present-day Texas hundreds of years ago. Despite the serious subject of the museum, fascinating tours are held here even for young children.

One of the most unusual cultural centers in Austin is the Mexic-Arte Museum. Its collection is dedicated to the traditional and modern art of Mexico and Latin American countries. The opening of the themed museum took place in 1983. It has several thematic galleries, and a separate collection includes migration-related artworks. In addition to art exhibits, you can see a lot of interesting installations here. Of equal interest are the museum’s collections of old photographs.

The Paramount Theatre located in the heart of the city is considered an iconic cultural symbol for Austin. The theater was built in 1915 and is now a vivid example of the Renaissance architectural style. The last major reconstruction of its building took place in 1980. It was possible to preserve many original decoration elements. The historic theater features not only a chic interior but also excellent acoustics. This allows it to host various types of shows and events. Music concerts, film screenings, dance shows, and special children's events are organized here in addition to traditional performances.

Fans of unusual attractions will be happy to see the Moonlight Tower, which is associated with many interesting stories. According to the official version, in 1894, a serial killer appeared in Austin who committed crimes in five city districts. To provide maximum illumination for these districts at night, a 50-meter steel tower was built in each of them. When the killer was caught, the towers lost their original meaning, and four of them were dismantled over time. Only one has survived to this day. With the onset of darkness, a powerful searchlight lights up on its top imitating the moonlight. A lot of people are gathering to admire the huge tower in the evening. In the city’s central district, Downtown Austin, tourists can visit many specialized museums and art galleries.