The Texas Capitol building took roughly six years to construct. | Photo via The Portal to Texas History, Austin History Center, Austin Public Library
For us? You shouldn’t have.
We think living in Austin is the greatest gift of all, but our city has actually been on the receiving end of quite a few delightful donations. From parks to sculptures and more, check out these major gifts given to the city.
Pink Granite for the Texas State Capitol | The iconic Texas State Capitol building — which is taller than the US Capitol, by the way — was built using pink granite from Granite Mountain, located just outside of Marble Falls. In 1885, Granite Mountain owners William H. Westfall and Nimrod L. Norton supplied the granite for free, as long as the railroad track used to transport it was extended to the quarry site.
Stevie Ray Vaughan Memorial Statue | One of Austin’s most well-known landmarks, this statue on Lady Bird Lake was donated to the city by Vaughan’s family and fan club. For just over 30 years, the statue has marked a site where Vaughan often performed in person.
🏐 Reigning champs return: New season starts next month
Presented by League One Volleyball
Photo courtesy League One Volleyball
LOVB Austin Volleyball is back and ready to repeat.
After winning the inaugural League One Volleyball Championship this past April, the local squad is gearing up for another electrifying season, starting with a championship rematch versus LOVB Nebraska on Wednesday, January 7.
Leading the charge: Longhorn Hero and LOVB Finals MVP Madisen Skinner, who will step onto the court opposite fellow U.S. National Team standout Lexi Rodriguez in a fast-growing rivalry that features Olympians, NCAA National Champions, and international superstars. (Full Schedule and Theme Nights this way).
Prep for post-holiday cleanup chaos with our go-to organization hacks:
🎁 Tuck leftover wrapping paper into this storage container with handy pockets for ribbons + bows.
🌲 Keep ornaments protected in a durable storage box with drawers that hold up 128 pieces.
🎀 Organize holiday decor in these best-selling containers that are transparent so you can easily see what’s inside.
🚪 Prevent your wreath from getting crushed with a specially designed storage bag that keeps its shape intact.
💡 Say goodbye to tangled wires — this storage solution features three spools for easy holiday light organization.
Happy Holidays, Austin. I’ll be spending today and tomorrow visiting family in the Hill Country and indulging in some my grandma’s famous pecan pralines.
Sending warm wishes to you and yours — we’ll see you next week.
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