San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site

San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site

San Felipe, Texas

The long needed and much anticipated San Felipe de Austin Museum opened in April of 2018.

I recently visited the museum and I was not disappointed. The museum is has many static displays, interactive displays and videos all designed to explain the history of the colonial capital of Texas, San Felipe de Austin.

If it has been awhile since you visited the San Felipe de Austin Sate Historical Site, you would probably remember that the focus of the site was on the West side of Farm to Market 1458. This has been a historical site since 1928. There was The Josey Store, the oldest building left, built after the burning of San Felipe de Austin during the run away scrape in 1836. There is also a large statue of Stephen F. Austin siting. There is also a "Dog trot" log cabin and an obelisk honoring Stephen F. Austin.

If this what you remember, it is time for you go back and pay the site another visit.

All the things you remembered are still there but there is a lot more. The biggest difference is the opening of the east side of San Felipe de Austin including the museum on the east side of Farm to Market 1458. Also, there is a walking tour that points out the streets, businesses and houses and who live in them.

The good news is, they are not finished. I would call San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site in active development. I plan on making a few more visits because things are changing and I have not seen all that they have done.


Villa de Austin

The Villa de Austin project, finished in 2021, is a representation of Town Lot 566 in San Felipe de Austin circa 1836. It allows visitors to see what type of homes and businesses existed before the San Felipe de Austin was burned to prevent advancing Mexican Troops from getting any benefit from the supplies and buildings in the town.

My favorite thing about Villa de Austin is that it is built to see and experience history. The buildings and the furnishing are replicas, not historic antiques. If your 10-year-old sees a chair in the Austin Academy School building and sits in it, that's ok.

On special weekends there are volunteer reenactors to complete the experience for your whole family. Villa de Austin is a great way to make what you have seen in the museum come to life for you and your family


For upcoming events scheduled at the San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site go to their website
Resources:
The Runaway Scrape
The Runaway Scrape

Printing press - representing the press that printed the 1st english language newspaper in Texas
Printing press - representing the press that printed the 1st English language newspaper in Texas
Printing press - representing the press that printed the 1st english language newspaper in Texas
Visitors Welcome Center & Museum Store

Updated:7/28/2022