Local History of Austin, Texas

Culture

Ancient fossils found in the Austin area

Austin is home to some ancient history, including gigantic aquatic lizards, prehistoric humans, and dinosaur tracks uncovered by flooding.

November 13, 2025 03:50 PM

Laura Figi

4th Street and Congress Avenue street signs in Austin, Texas with a building and tree in the background.

Live

20+ historic street names in Austin

Austin has nearly 200 years of history. In this guide, we’re diving into the city’s oldest streets and how they got their names.

October 16, 2024

STAFF

A charming pink house with white trim surrounded by lush greenery and large trees. The house has a cozy front porch where three people are sitting and chatting, enjoying a sunny day. One person is seated on the steps, while the other two are in green chairs. The relaxed and inviting atmosphere reflects a typical Austin neighborhood vibe.

Play

Your horoscope in Austin neighborhoods

Your home, your favorite coffee shop, your daily commute aren’t just written in the skyline — they may be written in the stars.

August 28, 2024

STAFF

The inside of a two-story mall facing a set of escalators. One to two stores appear to have lights on, while several others are empty or dark inside. Two people are seen walking on the upper level of the mall.

Culture

Dead malls: You could shop... until they dropped

Once booming, now barren. Let’s take a peek at malls of Austin’s past — plus hope for the future.

August 23, 2024

Brianna Williams

Sponsored by an ATXtoday Partner

Swimmers enjoying the pool at Barton Springs Park in Austin, Texas.

Travel and Outdoors

Remembering Austin’s hottest day on record

Austin’s hottest day on record was September 5, 2000, when the Capital City hit 112°.

August 13, 2024

Brianna Williams

Someone dipping a chicken flauta in a bowl of queso.

Live

Only true locals know these 27 unwritten rules of Austin

Tell us you’re from Austin without telling us you’re from Austin.

August 5, 2024

STAFF

History

How well do you know Austin trivia?

Contestants, we’re playing “Jeopardy!”

August 1, 2024

Laura Figi

A large beer in a round glass sits on a mahogany table, in front of a blue, white, and teal flash, and a blue wall.

Culture

Local libations: A round of Austin-centric craft beers

A turn of phrase here, a recognizable Austin nod there — these craft beers found around ATX take local pride seriously.

July 22, 2024

Monica Garske

A large outdoor stage with sets designed for "Newsies" in the 2022 production, with people in lawn chairs and on blankets in the audience in the foreground.

Entertainment

Zilker Theatre Productions celebrates 65 years

Here’s a timeline chronicling decades of the nonprofit organization entertaining Austin at no cost.

July 11, 2024

Morgan O’Neal

Travel and Outdoors

Swim into this history of Deep Eddy Pool

We’re diving into the deep end of history about Texas’ oldest swimming pool, which has been keeping Austinites cool for over a century.

June 24, 2024

Laura Figi

Sponsored by Default Sponsor

Food

Sip along to the ATXtoday East Austin Coffee Crawl

July 27, 2022

London Gibson

A rendering of the Clarksvillage project

Development

Clarksvillage development could transform West Sixth Street

July 27, 2022

London Gibson

Food

Desert Door Distillery highlights sotol’s 10,000-year history in Central Texas

July 25, 2022

London Gibson

Food

Learning about local, drinkable rainwater in Austin, TX

July 22, 2022

Vagney Hampshire

City

Samsung considering historic $200 billion investment in Austin-area chipmaking facilities

July 21, 2022

London Gibson

Culture

Hit the Road: a 30-mile getaway to Buda, TX

July 20, 2022

Vagney Hampshire

A real image of the Texas State Capitol compared to a Craiyon drawing.

City

Austin, according to an AI bot

July 19, 2022

London Gibson

Culture

Swimming pools for rent in Austin, TX

July 15, 2022

London Gibson