Why go
A Capitol visit gives context to the civic center; the University of Texas at Austin leads toward art and archival collections. For an evening, compare a live music show with theater or orchestral programs. These choices reveal more of Austin than a single sweep through its bars and shopping streets.
The full story
Austin grew around a deliberate political decision. In 1839, the Republic of Texas selected the Colorado River settlement of Waterloo for its capital and renamed it for Stephen F. Austin. The city’s later development as a center of government and education brought the Texas State Capitol and the University of Texas at Austin into its physical and cultural landscape. Technology became another important part of Austin’s economy in the late twentieth century, adding a different layer to the government and university town. Its musical identity developed through beer halls, country venues, blues clubs and experimental stages rather than a single genre. The city’s nicknames reveal these overlapping histories. “Silicon Hills” refers to its technology industry. “Live Music Capital of the World” expresses its identification with performance, while “Keep Austin Weird” grew from concern for independent businesses and local character. Reading the slogans this way gives them more meaning than a souvenir shirt: each points to a different pressure or tradition in the city’s development.