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

Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Building

Photographed by Keith Peterson, September 9, 2007

1. Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Building Marker

Inscription.

Veteran Travis County official and historian Frank Brown (1833-1913) erected this structure in 1886. Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Company bought and restyled the building in 1898. Architect A.O. Watson designed the ornate façade. Previously in rented quarters at various sites, S.T.&T. occupied this as the city’s first telephone building. The John L. Martin family owned the structure from 1922 to 1976.
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1977

Erected 1977 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 14090.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1886.

Location. 30° 16.001′ N, 97° 44.611′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Downtown Austin. It is on Congress Avenue near West 5th Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 410 Congress Avenue, 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: A different marker also named Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Building (here, next to this marker); Original Site of First Methodist Church of Austin (within shouting distance of this marker); Koppel Building (within shouting

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

Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Building and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Keith Peterson, September 9, 2007

2. Southwestern Telegraph & Telephone Building and Marker

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 17, 2010, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,417 times since then and 70 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 17, 2010, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.