Downtown Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
O. Henry
(William Sydney Porter, Sept. 11, 1862 June 5, 1910)
Photographed by Keith Peterson, November 18, 2007
1. O. Henry Marker
Born in Greensboro, N.C., moved to Texas in 1882, and lived on a ranch near Cotulla. Came to Austin in 1884, and in addition to writing, worked as a pharmacist, musician, draftsman, and bank teller. His first nationally published short story appeared in 1897.
Porter began writing under the name O. Henry during three years spent in prison. The 381 stories published while in New York, 1902-10, won him international fame. O. Henry's collected works have been translated into 10 languages.
This mid-1890s home of Porter, his wife Athol, and their daughter, opened as a museum in 1934.
Erected 1974 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 14859.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Arts, Letters, Music. A significant historical year for this entry is 1882.
Location. 30° 15.952′ N, 97° 44.344′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Downtown Austin. It is on East 5th Street east of Trinity Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 409 E 5th Street, 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: Susanna Dickinson-Hannig (a few steps from this marker); Nalle Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line);
this page online
Photographed by Keith Peterson, November 18, 2007
2. O. Henry House
Marker is located at the start of the walkway leading to the entrance door.
Photographed by Wikipedia
3. William S. Porter
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 1,295 times since then and 40 times this year. Last updated on September 3, 2015, by Renee' Lasswell of Austin, Texas. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on December 20, 2009, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. 3. submitted on December 26, 2009. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
