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

Esperanza School Building

Photographed By Keith Peterson, November 25, 2007

1. Esperanza School Building Marker

Inscription.

One of earliest one-room rural schoolhouses in Travis County, this cabin was built on property of Richard McKenzie in 1866. It was known as Esperanza School and served children from neighboring farms in the period before public education. In 1893 when a larger Esperanza School was built at another site this original log structure was put to other uses. (Original site of this cabin was in the NW quadrant of the intersection of Spicewood Springs Rd. and Mopac Blvd.)
Recorded Texas Historic Landmark - 1974
Dedicated to the memory and honor of all students and educators of Texas

Erected 1974 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 14956.)

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Education • Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1866.

Location. 30° 16.14′ N, 97° 46.37′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Barton Hills. Marker can be reached from Barton Springs Road, 0.2 miles east of South Mo-Pac Expressway (Texas Highway 1), on the left when traveling east. The marker and school building are located on the grounds of the Zilker Botanical Gardens (fee required). Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2220 Barton Springs Road, Austin TX 78746, United States of America. Touch for directions.

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At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Swedish Log Cabin (a few steps from this marker); Swedes of Texas (a few steps from this marker); Ashford McGill House (approx. ¼ mile away); Clay Pit Bucket Tower (approx. 0.3 miles away); Philosophers’ Rock (approx. 0.3 miles away); Barton Springs (approx. 0.4 miles away); Andrew Jackson Zilker (approx. 0.4 miles away); Travis County (approx. 0.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.

Photographed By Richard Denney, November 15, 2016

2. Esperanza School Building Marker

Wider view of marker, plus "An American Bicentennial Gift" plaque, and Austin Landmark plaque

Esperanza School Building image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith Peterson, November 25, 2007

3. Esperanza School Building

Esperanza School Building (Inside) image. Click for full size.

Photographed By Keith Peterson, November 25, 2007

4. Esperanza School Building (Inside)

Photographed By Richard Denney, November 15, 2016

5. Esperanza School Building

An additional photo of the building

Photographed By Richard Denney, November 15, 2016

6. Esperanza School Building Marker

Close-up shot of American bicentennial plaque

Photographed By Richard Denney, November 15, 2016

7. Esperanza School Building

Photo of the rear of the log cabin; notice axe marks, clearly evident in the hand hewn timbers.

Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on December 20, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,417 times since then and 38 times this year. Last updated on December 5, 2014, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on December 20, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 2. submitted on November 15, 2016, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 3, 4. submitted on December 20, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 5. submitted on November 16, 2016, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 6. submitted on November 15, 2016, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 7. submitted on November 16, 2016, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.