10 Most Iconic Buildings in Austin (Beyond the Capitol)

Everyone knows the Capitol and the UT Tower.

But Austin's story is also written in a cattle baron's hotel, a Swedish bakery, a block of Victorian mansions and a glass tower some people swear looks like an owl.

Some of these buildings are more than 150 years old. Others went up in the last decade.

Here are 10 of the most iconic buildings in Austin, beyond the Capitol, and where to find each one.

1. The Texas Governor's Mansion

The official home of the governor of Texas was built between 1854 and 1856, according to the Handbook of Texas.

Builder Abner Hugh Cook supervised the two-story Greek Revival mansion, made with bricks from Austin and pine from Bastrop for the columns.

Gov. E. M. Pease spent his first night there on June 10, 1856, the Handbook says. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

2. The Old Bakery and Emporium

Swedish immigrant Charles Lundberg built this bakery on Congress Avenue in 1876, according to the City of Austin.

The bakery closed in 1936, and the building was saved from demolition in 1963 when the Austin Heritage Society and the Junior League stepped in, the city says.

Today the city runs it as an art gallery and artisan shop, and the giant oven is still there.

3. The Bremond Block

The Handbook of Texas calls the Bremond Block one of the few remaining upper-class Victorian neighborhoods of its era left in Texas.

Six of the homes were built or expanded for the families of brothers Eugene and John Bremond, who were big names in Austin banking and business.

Across San Antonio Street, the North-Evans Chateau was remodeled into a late Victorian castle by architect Alfred Giles in 1894, the Handbook says.

4. Saint Mary Cathedral

Architect Nicholas J. Clayton designed this rugged limestone church, and it was dedicated in 1884, according to its National Register nomination.

The nomination notes a 2,000-pound bell went into the belfry in 1886, and stained glass windows made in Munich, Germany were added in the 1890s.

It became the cathedral of the Diocese of Austin after the diocese was created in 1948.

5. The Driskill Hotel

Cattle drive pioneer Jesse Lincoln Driskill bought the half block at Sixth and Brazos in 1884, and his hotel opened on December 20, 1886, according to the Handbook of Texas.

Austin architects Jasper N. Preston and Sons designed the cream brick and limestone building, the Handbook says.

When the hotel was threatened with closing in 1970, the Heritage Society of Austin led a campaign that saved it.

6. The Littlefield Building

When it opened in 1912, the nine-story Littlefield Building was Austin's first high-rise office building, according to the Guide to Austin Architecture.

At 140 feet, it was the tallest commercial building in Austin for nearly 20 years.

It is named for cattleman turned banker George Washington Littlefield, and architect C.H. Page Jr. designed it in the Beaux Arts style, the guide says.

7. The Long Center

The Long Center was built out of the old Lester E. Palmer Auditorium, which went up in 1959, according to the center.

The giant circular ring beam that anchored Palmer was kept as the building's signature design, and the old Palmer stage house now serves as the stage for Dell Hall.

It opened in 2008, and its City Terrace is a public space with sweeping views of the downtown skyline, the center says.

8. The Frost Bank Tower

Finished in 2003, the 33-story, 515-foot Frost Bank Tower was the tallest building in Austin when it opened, according to the Guide to Austin Architecture.

Look at the crown from the right angle and you may see an owl, with the two round Frost Bank logos as its eyes.

The rumor says a Rice University grad snuck his school's mascot onto the skyline, but the guide says none of the building's architects went to Rice.

9. Austin Central Library

Austin's Central Library opened in October 2017, and TIME later named it one of 25 buildings that represent America, according to the Austin Public Library.

Lake Flato and Shepley Bulfinch designed it, and a six-story atrium brings daylight to more than 80 percent of its regularly used spaces, the Guide to Austin Architecture says.

It also has a rooftop garden overlooking Shoal Creek and Lady Bird Lake.

10. The Independent (the Jenga Tower)

Its offset blocks look like a game of Jenga, which is exactly how the 58-story condo tower got its nickname, the Austin American-Statesman reported.

Austin architect Brett Rhode of Rhode-Partners designed it, and the tower broke ground in 2016.

When it was finished, it edged out the 56-story Austonian as Austin's tallest building, according to the Statesman.

Ready to explore?

Which Austin building do you think is the most iconic? Tell us in the comments.