Downtown Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Site of Second Travis County Courthouse and Walton Building
Photographed By Keith Peterson, September 3, 2007
1. Site of Second Travis County Courthouse and Walton Building Marker
Built in 1875 in term of County Judge James W. Smith. Former state officials on committees for site and building included Governor E.M. Pease, Secretary of State C.S. West, Attorney General N.G. Shelley, Treasurer James H. Raymond and Legislator George Hancock.
In era when Texas was gaining world renown, home of outstanding courts, able judges, brilliant bar. One tenant of its fortress-style jail was author William Sidney Porter (O. Henry), after his return to Austin in 1897 to be with his dying wife and face trial on embezzlement charges.
In 1931, the county accepted a block of land in exchange for cancellation of its 99-year lease on this site. Courthouse towers and jail were removed. State offices moved in – Game, Fish, and Oyster Commission, Department of Education, Banking Department.
In public competition for a name, “Walton Building” was chosen, for Fishermen’s Patron Izaak Walton (1593-1683) and for Wm. M. “Buck” Walton (1832-1915), Adjutant General in Terrell’s Confederate brigade, Attorney General of Texas, famed for a colorful law career.
The massive 3-story Victorian limestone structure with impressive carved entrance was razed in 1964.
Erected 1965 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 15063.)
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Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Places. A significant historical year for this entry is 1875.
Location. 30° 16.362′ N, 97° 44.462′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Downtown Austin. Marker can be reached from the intersection of Congress Avenue and East 11th Street. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Austin TX 78701, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Governor James Edward Ferguson August 31, 1871 -September 21, 1944 (here, next to this marker); Governor Andrew Jackson Hamilton (a few steps from this marker); Texas State Capitol (within shouting distance of this marker); The Woman Suffrage Movement in Texas (within shouting distance of this marker); African Americans in the Texas Revolution (within shouting distance of this marker); Capitol Fence (within shouting distance of this marker); Capitol Grounds Design (within shouting distance of this marker); Southern Confederacy Monument (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
Photographed By Michael Heinich, August 24, 2014
2. Site of Second Travis County Courthouse and Walton Building Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 20, 2010, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 978 times since then and 36 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 20, 2010, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 2. submitted on August 24, 2014, by Michael Heinich of Austin, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
