Mesa Trails in Austin in Travis County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
First Presbyterian Church of Austin
Photographed By Richard Denney, June 14, 2019
1. First Presbyterian Church of Austin Marker
This congregation traces its history to the early years of Austin and the missionary activities of the Rev. Daniel Baker. After a visit to Austin in 1848, Daniel Baker recommended the organization of a Presbyterian congregation in the city. His son William M. Baker, newly ordained to the Presbyterian ministry, arrived here in May 1850 and organized the First Presbyterian Church. Among the five charter members was master builder Abner Cook, who later built the Texas governor's mansion.
The first sanctuary, built in downtown Austin on land donated by Cook, was completed in 1851. It was replaced by a stone structure in 1890. The congregation continued to worship at the downtown site until 1960, when they relocated to Jackson Street in north central Austin.
The church moved to new facilities at this site in 1978. Historic stained glass windows and the original cornerstone from the 1890 stone sanctuary were incorporated into the design of the new building.
The First Presbyterian Church of Austin continues to serve its members and the community with a variety of worship educational and outreach programs.
Erected 1990 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 14351.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Churches & Religion
this page online
Location. 30° 22.179′ N, 97° 45.471′ W. Marker is in Austin, Texas, in Travis County. It is in Mesa Trails. Marker can be reached from Mesa Drive north of Mesa Trails Circle, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 8001 Mesa Drive, Austin TX 78731, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Texas Newspapers, C.S.A. (approx. 1.1 miles away); Balcones Fault Aids Colonization of Texas (approx. 1.2 miles away); Walden Mill at Bull Creek (approx. 1.4 miles away); Native Americans at Bull Creek (approx. 1.4 miles away); Old Quarry Site (approx. 1.8 miles away); Davis Cemetery (approx. 2 miles away); The Old Zimmerman Home (approx. 2.7 miles away); First Cumberland Presbyterian Church of Austin (approx. 2.8 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Austin.
Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker. Original Site of the First Presbyterian Church
Photographed By Richard Denney
2. First Presbyterian Church of Austin Marker
Marker was recently refinished. Photo shows before and after.
Photographed By Keith Peterson, May 10, 2020
3. First Presbyterian Church of Austin and Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 1, 2023. It was originally submitted on October 14, 2019, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. This page has been viewed 377 times since then and 51 times this year. Last updated on October 15, 2019, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. Photos: 1. submitted on October 14, 2019, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 2. submitted on May 19, 2020, by Richard Denney of Austin, Texas. 3. submitted on May 10, 2020, by Keith Peterson of Cedar Park, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
