Downtown Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Scarbrough Building
Photographed by Keith Peterson, September 30, 2007
1. Scarbrough Building Marker
Alabama native Emerson Monroe Scarbrough (1846-1925) came to Texas following service in the Civil War and settled in Milam County, where he was a successful merchant. He opened a branch of his business, Scarbrough and Hicks, on Congress Avenue in 1893, moving one block north in 1894. In 1910, on this adjacent, prominent corner, he completed Austins first skyscraper. His new building was designed in the Chicago style by Fort Worth architects Sanguinet and Staats. It was enlarged and redesigned with Art Deco elements in 1930-31 by Wyatt C. Hedrick, Inc. and Edwin Kreisle. An early leader in modern merchandising, Scarbroughs closed this downtown location in 1983.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 2001
Erected 2001 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 12733.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Industry & Commerce • Landmarks • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Art Deco series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1893.
Location. 30° 16.077′ N, 97° 44.582′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Downtown Austin. It is at the intersection of Congress Avenue and West 6th Street
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Regionally, this marker is in Central Texas. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Robinson-Rosner Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Littlefield Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Angelina Eberly Statue (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); O. Henry Hall (about 400 feet away); Sampson-Henricks Building (about 400 feet away); Site of John Bremond & Company (about 400 feet away); Sixth Street (about 400 feet away); Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Building (about 500 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
Photographed by Keith Peterson, September 30, 2007
2. Scarbrough Building and Marker
A portion of the marker can just be seen to the left of a person's head in this view.
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 1,431 times since then and 87 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 21, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
