Central Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Carrington Bluff House

Photographed By Richard Denney, August 4, 2021

1. Carrington Bluff House Marker

Inscription.

In 1854, local Austin merchant and land speculator, L.D. Carrington (1816-1897), bought this property and the surrounding outlots for his family farm from Hannah (Este) Burnet (1800-1858), wife of the first president of the Republic of Texas, David G. Burnet (1788-1870), and built a house in the 1880s. The present appearance dates to the 1911 remodel by owner Charles Morrison (1875-1966) and the 1920s and 1930s second story addition by owner Joseph O’Reilly (1857-1937). This vernacular house has a modified hip roof with south and east facing gable ends. Square columns on the south porch and the wavy glass on the upper pane of the front door are consistent with 19th century trends.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2018

Erected 2018 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 20053.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • War, Texas Independence. A significant historical year for this entry is 1854.

Location. 30° 17.061′ N, 97° 45.043′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Central Austin. Marker is on David Street north of West Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard, on the left when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1900 David Street, Austin TX 78705, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other

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markers are within walking distance of this marker. Pease Park (approx. ¼ mile away); McLendon-Price House (approx. ¼ mile away); The Texas Federation of Women’s Clubs Headquarters (approx. 0.3 miles away); Okewell (approx. 0.3 miles away); Clara Driscoll (approx. 0.3 miles away); Crusemann-Marsh-Bell House (approx. 0.3 miles away); Site of Edward Mandell House Home (approx. 0.3 miles away); Denny-Holliday House (approx. 0.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.

Additional commentary.
1.
A note from the marker application provides some context on the "bluff" and the early history of the house: "[Augustus] Koch’s 1887 Bird’s Eye View map illustrates a one-story house on the site, sitting atop a bluff that overlooks Shoal Creek with excellent views of downtown Austin and Pease Park. The house is in an excellent position to have been used as an early outpost, since Indian Territory was just west of Shoal Creek until the 1880s. Significant vegetation runs down the steep bluff south and west of the house to the creek."

— Submitted August 6, 2021, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas.

Photographed By Richard Denney, August 4, 2021

2. Carrington Bluff House Marker

This photo is a wide-angle view of the marker in context. The "bluff" which drops down to Shoal Creek valley is in the distance beyond the gazebo.

Carrington Bluff House and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Richard Denney, August 4, 2021

3. Carrington Bluff House and Marker

This wide-angle view is from the street.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 6, 2021, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 248 times since then and 42 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on August 6, 2021, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.