Congress Avenue Historic District in Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Austin, C.S.A.
An active place during the Civil War, Austin was the site of the Secession Convention, March 2, 1861, and legislative sessions which lasted until June 1865. City visitors during the early 1860s included lobbyists, cotton speculators, military leaders, and businessmen seeking to aid the war effort. Five stage lines and a pony express to the railhead at Brenham provided communications. Also located here was the Texas Military Board, an agency created to obtain arms and munitions for 33 militia districts.
A city arsenal was set up on Waller Creek in southeast Austin. A gun cap factory in the old Land Office on 11th Street made 14,000 shells a day, and a foundry produced guns and cannon. Factories for shoes and gunpowder, and a sewing room in the basement of the capitol, furnished goods for the Confederate Army. The city also maintained a military fort.
During the war citizens endured Indian raids, epidemics of fever and diphtheria, rumors of slave uprisings, and a scarcity of food. Hotels refused room and board, even to state legislatures, unless payment was made in gold, silver, or goods such as nails and tobacco. As a result, some lawmakers lived in their wagons and cooked over open fires.
Erected 1965 by State Historical Survey Committee. (Marker Number 12690.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: War, US Civil. A significant historical date for this entry is March 2, 1832.
Location. Marker has been reported permanently removed. It was located near 30° 15.77′ N, 97° 44.683′ W. Marker was in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It was in the Congress Avenue Historic District. Marker was on Congress Avenue south of West Cesar Chavez Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: Austin TX 78701, United States of America.
We have been informed that this sign or monument is no longer there and will not be replaced. This page is an archival view of what was.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location. Congress Avenue (within shouting distance of this marker); H&TC and I&GN Depots (approx. 0.2 miles away); Austin City Limits (approx. 0.2 miles away); Site of the Headquarters of the United States Army for 5th Military District (approx. ¼ mile away); Grinninger Fence (approx. ¼ mile away); J.P. Schneider Store (approx. ¼ mile away); Original Site of First Methodist Church of Austin (approx. ¼ mile away); Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Building (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
More about this marker. This marker has been removed by the City of Austin and placed in storage as of June 30, 2020.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 21, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,611 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on June 29, 2020, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. Photo 1. submitted on December 21, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.