Downtown Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Guadalupe Park and Austin's Mexico
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El Guadalupe Park y El "México" de Austin
Photographed by James Hulse, February 22, 2025
1. Guadalupe Park and Austin's Mexico / El Guadalupe Park y El "México" de Austin Marker
English side of the marker
Austin's original Mexican and Tejano community once enveloped Republic Square. This neighborhood, known as "Mexico," stretched from Congress Avenue to Shoal Creek and from West 1st Street to West 7th Street. By the 1880s, the park was so popular that nearby residents hosted concerts and dances, church fundraisers and the annual celebration of Mexico's Independence Day (16 de septiembre) here.In 1907, the Catholic diocese built Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and a parochial school at the corner of West 5th Street and Guadalupe Street facing Republic Square. Thereafter, the square was known as "Guadalupe Park" among local residents.
People of color, including Mexicans and Tejanos, began settling east Austin after the Civil War. The growth of that community began to attract people away from the "Mexico" neighborhood. Our Lady of Guadalupe Church, for example, moved east in 1926.
The City Plan of 1928 continued this movement through institutional racial segregation and pressuring people of color to continue moving east of East Avenue (now I-35). The plan recommended that city services (schools, roads, utilities) be
this page online
By the end of the Great Depression, the residents of "Mexico" had moved east with their stores, churches, foods, and fiestas. Today some Tejanos now residing east of I-35 can trace their lineage to Guadalupe Park and the "Mexico" neighborhood.
Captions
(Photo #1) The original Our Lady of Guadalupe Church was located immediately north of Republic Square.
Jesse Herrera Photography Collection, Detail from Image #AR 2009-047-012, Austin History Center Austin Public Library
La comunidad Mexicana y Tejana de Austin una vez, incluyó a Republic Square. Este vecindario, conocido como "México" se extendía desde la avenida Congress hasta Shoal Creek, y hasta el Oeste de la lera y la 7ma calle. Para los años 1880, el parque era tan popular, que los residentes que vivían en esa área organizaban conciertos y bailes, actividades para recaudar fondos para las iglesias, y la celebración anual de la Independencia de México (Dieciséis de Septiembre).
En 1907, la diócesis católica construyó la iglesia Our Lady of Guadalupe, así como una escuela parroquial, en la esquina al Oeste de la Caile 5 y la calle Guadalupe que están frente a Republic Square. A partir de este momento, esta plaza pública
Photographed by James Hulse, February 22, 2025
2. Guadalupe Park and Austin's Mexico / El Guadalupe Park y El "México" de Austin Marker
Spanish side of the marker
Las personas de color, incluyendo a los Mexicanos y a los Tejanos, comenzaron a establecerse al este de Austin después de la Guerra Civil. El crecimiento de la comunidad comenzó a atraer a las personas a moverse fuera del vecindario conocido como "México". Por ejemplo, la iglesia Our Lady of Guadalupe se movió al este en el 1926.
El plan para la ciudad del 1928 continuó este movimiento mediante la segregación racial institucional y presionando a las personas de color para continuar moviéndose hacia el área este de la calle East Avenue (ahora la I-35). Este plan recomendaba que los servicios de la ciudad (escuelas, carreteras, servicios públicos) se les negaran a las personas de color, a menos que vivieran dentro del área del "Negro District".
A finales de la Gran Depresión, los residentes de "México" se movieron hacia el este con sus tiendas, iglesias, alimentos y fiestas. Hoy día, algunos Tejanos que ahora residen al este de la I-35 pueden adjudicar su linaje al Guadalupe Park y al vecindario conocido como "México".
Subtítulos
(Foto #1) La iglesia original de Our Lady of Guadalupe estaba localizada inmediatamente al norte de Republic Square.
Colección Fotogrática de Jesse Herrera, Detalte de la imagon #AR-2009-047-012, Austin
Photographed by James Hulse, February 22, 2025
3. The view of the marker from Republic Square
Erected by Downtown Austin Alliance, Austin Parks Foundation and Austin Parks and Recreation Department.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Hispanic Americans • Parks & Recreational Areas • Religion & Religious Structures. A significant historical year for this entry is 1907.
Location. 30° 16.086′ N, 97° 44.821′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Downtown Austin. It is at the intersection of West 5th Street and Guadalupe Street, on the right when traveling east on West 5th Street. The marker is located along the north side of the Republic Square. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 421 1/2 W 5th St, 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: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla (a few steps from this marker); Jose Maria Morelos y Pavón (a few steps from this marker); Park History / Historia del Parque (within shouting distance of this marker); The Soul of the Square / El Alma de Republic Square (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Old B.J. Smith Property (about 700 feet away); Claudia Taylor Johnson Hall (about 700 feet away); James T. Brown House (about 700 feet away); Eugene Bremond House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 25, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 24, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 178 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 25, 2025, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
