Downtown Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Wooldridge Square
Three of Austin's first churches were built overlooking the square, including two of the first African American churches. Yet in those early years, the square itself remained unimproved by the city.
In 1909, Austin Mayor A.P. Wooldridge, animated by civic pride and backyard boosterism (he lived on the north side of the square), inspired the city to clean up the square and build a bandstand for public engagements. Designed by Charles Page, the bandstand was strategically placed over a tributary of Shoal Creek which bisected what was called Wooldridge Park. This waterway was later rechanneled underground. Over the next century, Wooldridge Square would host concerts and assemblies as well as notable speakers, such as Booker T. Washington (1911) and Minnie Fisher Cunningham (1910s). The first senate campaign of Lyndon B. Johnson (1941) was launched here, and scores of Texas political aspirants reached out to voters from the bandstand.
The cultural commotions of the 1960s reverberated through this square as well. Civil rights marches often ended at Wooldridge with a flurry of speeches and rallies. In 1968, a benefit at the square introduced the world to the artistic rendering of an armadillo as a counterculture icon of Austin. As one of the city's original civic spaces, Wooldridge Square continues to be important as a recreation destination and as a place to gather.
Erected 2022 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 23706.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Churches & Religion • Civil Rights • Parks & Recreational Areas. A significant historical year for this entry is 1909.
Location. 30° 16.324′ N, 97° 44.745′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Downtown Austin. Marker is at the intersection of West 9th Street and Guadalupe Street, on the left when traveling east on West 9th Street. Inside Wooldridge Square Park, next to Votes for Women and Booker T. Washington markers. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 900 Guadalupe Street, 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. Votes for Women (here, next to this marker); Booker T. Washington (here, next to this marker); 1933 Austin Public Library (within shouting distance of this marker); Wooldridge Park (within shouting distance of this marker); Austin's Moonlight Towers (within shouting distance of this marker); Hirshfeld Cottage (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hirshfeld House (about 500 feet away); Ira Hobart Evans (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
Credits. This page was last revised on June 3, 2023. It was originally submitted on May 19, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. This page has been viewed 91 times since then and 14 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on May 19, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. 2, 3. submitted on May 31, 2023, by Bob Ward of Austin, Texas. 4, 5, 6. submitted on May 19, 2023, by Jeff Leichsenring of Garland, Texas. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.