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

Original Site of First Methodist Church of Austin

Photographed by Keith Peterson, September 9, 2007

1. Original Site of First Methodist Church of Austin Marker

Inscription.

Established in 1840 by the Rev. John Haynie (1786-1860), the First Methodist Church was Austin’s second Protestant congregation. Services were held in temporary quarters until members erected their first meeting house in 1847 at this site, then the corner of Cedar Street and Congress Avenue. The Rev. Homer S. Thrall (1819-1894) was Pastor when the small frame church was built. Thirty-five doctors from around the state met here January 17-19, 1853, to organize the Texas Medical Association. In 1854 the Methodists moved to a new brick church on the corner of Brazos and Mulberry (now 10th) street.

Erected 1978 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 11783.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical month for this entry is January 1853.

Location. 30° 15.98′ N, 97° 44.596′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Downtown Austin. It is at the intersection of Congress Avenue and East 4th Street, on the right when traveling north on Congress Avenue. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 401 Congress Ave, Austin TX 78701, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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: Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Koppel Building (within shouting distance of this marker); a different marker also named Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Building

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(within shouting distance of this marker); McKean-Eilers Building (within shouting distance of this marker); W.B. Smith Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Day Building (within shouting distance of this marker); Swift Building (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Robinson-Rosner Building (about 400 feet away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.

Also see . . . First United Methodist Church of Austin. Church website homepage (Submitted on December 26, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas.)

Original Site of First Methodist Church of Austin Marker Area image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Larry D. Moore, December 22, 2020

2. Original Site of First Methodist Church of Austin Marker Area

Credits. This page was last revised on January 24, 2025. It was originally submitted on December 26, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,351 times since then and 87 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on December 26, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 2. submitted on December 23, 2020, by Larry D. Moore of Del Valle, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.