Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Creekside Community
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Comunidad de Creekside
Photographed by Tracy Andersen Roberts, November 1, 2025
1. Creekside Community / Comunidad de Creekside Marker
Ahead of you the remains of the McKinney Homestead. Built by enslaved people in the 1840s, the house was once the hub of a small community along Onion Creek.Mover and Shaker
Compared to other players in the Texas Revolution, Thomas McKenney is not well known. But without him, independence may have failed! Together with his business partner Samuel May Williams, McKinney helped finance the Texas Navy - giving money rather than blood.
Boston to Austin
A native of Boston, Anna Gibbs emigrated to Galveston at age twenty. There, she met and married Thomas McKinney. The pair moved to Onion Creek in 1849. Here, she busting household of nieces, nephews, and adopted children. Anna McKinney brought New England know how to the ranch, with traditional recipes, home remedies, and perseverance. After her husband died in 1873, Anna Gibbs McKinney sold the ranch and moved in the growing city of Austin.
Forced Labor
The McKinney participated in the institution of slavery, at time owning dozens of people. Some built structures including the limestone house ahead - others worked inside. For
this page online
Captions
(Photo #1) One of Stephen F. Austin's "Old Three Hundred," Thomas found fortune as a merchant to Galveston, Texas and eventually moved to this spot in 1849.
(Photo #2) The five wooden slave quarters no longer exist. They must have looked something like this reproduction at the Barrington Plantation Historic Site.
(Photo #3) A Boston native, Anna (center) brought New England to Austin. Traditional recipes, home remedies, and perseverance helped her run the homestead.
Frente a ti se encuentran los restos de la Residencia McKinney. Construida por personas esclavizadas en la década de 1840, la casa fue el centro de una comunidad pequeña a lo largo de Onion Creek.
Lider y motor
En comparación con tres protagonistas de la Revolución de Texas, Thomas McKinney no es tan conocido. Pero sin él, puede que la independencia hubiera fracasado. Junto a su socia de negocios Sam May Williams, McKinney financió a la Marina de Texas, a la que en lugar de sangre, le dio dinero.
De Boston a Austin
Oriunda de
Photographed by Tracy Andersen Roberts, November 1, 2025
2. Creekside Community / Comunidad de Creekside Marker
Trabajos forzados
Los McKinney participaron en la institución de la esclavitud. En ocasiones, fueron propietarios de docenas de personas. Algunas construyeron estructuras, como la casa de piedra caliza de enfrente. Otras, trabajaron dentro. Durante generaciones, en todo el sur, las personas africanas fueron compradas, vendidas y heredadas como propiedad. Después de la emancipación, algunas comenzaron a vivir en los alrededores como terratenientes. Muchos se convirtieron en aparceros o arrendatarios agrícolas, y quedaron atrapados en la esclavitud de las deudas.
Subtítulos
(Foto #1) Uno de los "Viejos trescientos de Stephen F. Austin, Thomas hizo fortuna como un comerciante de Galveston, Texas, y eventualmente se mudó a este lugar en 1849.
(Foto #2) Las cinco barracas de madera para los esclavos ya no existen. Deben de
Photographed by Tracy Andersen Roberts, November 1, 2025
3. Creekside Community / Comunidad de Creekside Marker
(Foto #3) Oriunda de Boston, Anna (centro) llevó Nueva Inglaterra a Austin. Las recetas tradicionales, los remedios caseros y la perseverancia la ayudaron a ocuparse del hogar.
Erected by Texas Parks & Wildlife.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Industry & Commerce • Parks & Recreational Areas • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1849.
Location. 30° 11.383′ N, 97° 43.238′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It can be reached from Park Road west of McKinney Falls Pkwy. The marker is located in the McKinney Falls State Park on the Homestead Trail. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Austin TX 78744, 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 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Daily Grind / Molienda diaria (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Santiago del Valle Grant (approx. half a mile away); Collins Cemetery (approx. 1.7 miles away); Richard Overton Healing Garden (approx. 2.1 miles away); Doyle Farm (approx. 2.8 miles away); Onion Creek Lodge 220, A.F. & A.M. (approx. 3 miles away); Ward Memorial United Methodist Church (approx. 3.2 miles away); The Original Skyline Club Sign (approx. 3.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
Other markers no longer nearby. The Governor Horton Place (was approx. 2.9 miles away but has been confirmed missing); Pilot Knob (was approx. 3.1 miles away but has been confirmed missing).
Also see . . .
1. Texas Parks & Wildlife - McKinney Falls State Park.
Voters elected McKinney as a senator to the first legislature in Austin. During this time, he made plans for his new home on Onion Creek. Between 1850 and 1852, McKinney built a two-story limestone home, gristmill and dam on his ranch.(Submitted on November 2, 2025, by Tracy Andersen Roberts of Atlanta, Georgia.)
2. Friends of McKinney Falls State Park - Park History.
As you walk around the park, you'll see signs of the people that lived there before us. You'll find the ruins of McKinney's homestead, his horse trainer's cabin, gristmill and stone walls in the park to name a few.(Submitted on November 2, 2025, by Tracy Andersen Roberts of Atlanta, Georgia.)
Credits. This page was last revised on November 6, 2025. It was originally submitted on November 2, 2025, by Tracy Andersen Roberts of Atlanta, Georgia. This page has been viewed 78 times since then and 26 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on November 2, 2025, by Tracy Andersen Roberts of Atlanta, Georgia. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
