Downtown Black History Walk in Austin

5.0 (4 reviews) 2 hours Free cancellation

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4 reviews

5.0

Downtown Black History Walk in Austin — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

Downtown Black History Walk in Austin, photo 2 — Photos: the activity supplier, via Viator

About this activity

This historical walking tour takes guests through the presence of Black people in the heart of downtown Austin. Since Austin’s establishment in 1839 and before, people of African descent have played an integral part in this city’s development. We journey through centuries of histories, contributions, and experiences that are seldom told. We will explore the history of enslavement in Austin, routes to freedom in Mexico for enslaved persons passing through Austin, and the Black businesses and institutions that once flourished downtown. On this one-mile walk, guests will engage in dialogue about Black people's role in Austin’s development and their continued presence.

Please reserve up to 2 hours for this tour to accommodate walking between points of interest and time to discuss topics.

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At a glance

Duration: 2 hours
Confirmation: Instant confirmation
Ticket: Mobile or paper ticket accepted
Group: Up to 30 people
People per booking: 1–5
Guide: English
Operated by: Black Austin Tours

Ages: Adults (16–100 years)

What is included

Included

Included: All Fees and Taxes

Not included

Not included: Bottled water
Not included: Tips

Itinerary

Texas African American History Memorial

30 min

The Texas African American History Memorial is located on the Texas State Capitol Grounds. Here we will contextualize Texas’ African history from Spanish colonial times through the present. We will set the stage for “King Cotton” and Austin’s prominence as a cotton production and manufacturing hub.

The Texas Capitol building was completed in 1888. At its completion it was one of the tallest buildings in the world. However, what is often omitted from this building’s history is the large number of incarcerated Black men and women that were forced through “convict-leasing” to mine for the materials and construct the edifice.
Texas Governor's Mansion

15 min

Discuss the history of slavery in Austin and Travis County at the mansion, including the construction of the building. Here we bring humanity to those who were enslaved in Travis County. We highlight some important folks in Austin's history.
Stop 3

15 min

This park/square dates back to the Waller Plan of 1839, which plotted the city. Wooldridge Square was one of the original four squares in the city. Over time, this square saw the construction of many of Austin’s first Black churches, schools and social institutions. Booker T. Washington gave a monumental speech here in 1911. Here we will discuss the origins of Austin’s Black community post-enslavement and the role African-Americans played in the development of the state and city.
Stop 4

15 min

Heman Marion Sweatt Travis County Court - This courthouse which is adjacent to Wooldridge Square provides a great window into Austin’s role in maintaining Jim Crow racial segregation in the U.S. In 1946, during Sweatt v. Painter, the State of Texas upheld racial segregationist policies, which barred African-Americans admission to The University of Texas at Austin. Thurgood Marshall argued this case in Austin. Here we will discuss the role African-Americans have played in the Civil Rights Movement at the local, state and national levels.
Paramount Theatre

15 min

Walk down Congress Ave and discuss the impact of desegregation in Austin and visit the Paramount Theatre, which was a pivotal in the desegregation movement. Here we will discuss the different demonstrations such as the Swim-ins at Barton Springs, and protests on Austin's public transportation system in the 20th Century.
East Sixth Street

30 min

The tour will end on Austin’s most famous street, Sixth Street. Before 6th Street was the anchor of the “Live Music Capitol of the World '' it was the hub of African American commerce. Here we will discuss what business was like for Black business people and patrons. Here we will also discuss the creation of the Negro Disctrict in 1928, which displaced Black residents from coveted downtown spaces. Blacks were displaced to east Austin.