Austinville in Wythe County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)

Stephen Fuller Austin

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, June 23, 2022

1. Stephen Fuller Austin Memorial

Inscription. (front) Stephen Fuller Austin
1793—1836
Father of Texas
Man of Peace
Statesman, entrepreneur, colonizer
Austin led the first American
families known as the old three
hundred to Texas forming his
first colony
Creator and preserver of Texas
land system
First commander of Texas
military forces in the Texas
Revolution
Commissioner from the Republic
of Texas to the United States
Founder of the Texas Rangers
Died in 1836 only 3 months
after being appointed the first
Secretary of State for the
Republic of Texas

His efforts led to the
annexation of Texas which
added 1/3 to the size of the
United States (back) Stephen Fuller Austin, son of
Moses and Mary (Maria) Brown
Austin, was born in this
community on November 3, 1793.
His father and uncle
Stephen Austin operated the
lead mines here from about 1789
to 1798. The family and numerous
members of the community
moved to the lead mines in
Missouri, when Stephen was five
years old. Following his father's
death, Stephen became a
colonizer and political leader.
For his help in assisting Texas
settlers gain their independence

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He became known as “Father of Texas.”

Erected 1998 by Stephen F. Austin Memorial Foundation.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Industry & Commerce • Settlements & Settlers • War, Texas Independence. A significant historical date for this entry is November 3, 1793.

Location. 36° 51.185′ N, 80° 55.134′ W. Marker is in Austinville, Virginia, in Wythe County. It can be reached from Store Hill Road (Virginia Route 636) 0.1 miles south of Austinville Road ( Route 619), on the left when traveling south. Marker is in Stephen F. Austin Memorial Park just south of the Austinville Boat Ramp on the New River. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 186 Store Hill Rd, Austinville VA 24312, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia

and in the Blue Ridge Highlands.

It is also in the American South,

specifically in the Upper South,

in Appalachia,

and specifically in Southern Appalachia. Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory

Stephen Fuller Austin Memorial (Reverse) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, June 23, 2022

2. Stephen Fuller Austin Memorial (Reverse)

of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: The New River Trail: A Journey from Past to Future (approx. 0.2 miles away); To Mark The Site of The Lead Mines (approx. 0.6 miles away); 1901 Allis Chalmers Rock Crusher (approx. 2.2 miles away); Ivanhoe (approx. 2.2 miles away); Ivanhoe Furnace (approx. 2.2 miles away); a different marker also named Ivanhoe Furnace (approx. 2.2 miles away); Fincastle County (approx. 2.4 miles away); New River (approx. 2.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austinville.

Also see . . . Austin, Stephen Fuller (1793–1836). At this time [late 1820] Moses Austin was on his way to San Antonio to apply for a grant of land and permission to settle 300 families in Texas. Though not enthusiastic about the Texas venture, Austin decided to cooperate with his father. He arranged to obtain a loan from his friend [Joseph H.] Hawkins to float the enterprise and was at Natchitoches expecting

Stephen Fuller Austin Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 17, 2023

3. Stephen Fuller Austin Marker

to accompany his father to San Antonio when he learned of Moses Austin's death. He proceeded to San Antonio, where he arrived in August 1821. (Eugene C. Barker, Handbook of Texas, Texas State Historical Association) (Submitted on July 15, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee.)

Photographed by Duane and Tracy Marsteller, June 17, 2023

4. Stephen Fuller Austin Marker

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, June 23, 2022

5. Stephen Fuller Austin Memorial

Stephen Fuller Austin image. Click for full size.

Yinan Chen via Wikimedia Commons (Public Domain), January 13, 2014

6. Stephen Fuller Austin

He led the first successful (and second overall) Anglo colonization of the Tejas region of Mexico by bringing 300 families and their slaves from the United States in 1825.

Stephen Fuller Austin Memorial Park image. Click for full size.

Photographed by C. Ryan Dodson, June 23, 2022

7. Stephen Fuller Austin Memorial Park

The Memorial is located in Stephen Fuller Austin Memorial Park.

Credits. This page was last revised on May 4, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 15, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 333 times since then and 32 times this year. Last updated on September 15, 2025, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on September 15, 2025, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 3, 4. submitted on July 15, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 5. submitted on September 15, 2025, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. 6. submitted on July 15, 2023, by Duane and Tracy Marsteller of Murfreesboro, Tennessee. 7. submitted on April 29, 2026, by C. Ryan Dodson of Danville, Virginia. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.