Once upon a time (this is not a fairytale) members of the William Barrett Travis Chapter collected items from many of their family members who had been a part of the Texas Revolution and started a museum in some of their homes.

In 1903, those items were relocated to one room in the State Capitol. The Republic of Texas Museum collection of Republic era artifacts grew rapidly through the dedicated efforts of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT). To no one’s surprise they out grew that one room.

 

 

Now the newly named Republic of Texas Museum presented by the Nelson Puett Foundation is in the new Republic of Texas History Center’s state-of-the-art facility located at 810 San Marcos Street in Austin. Our self-guided museum tour is for all ages. Learn about the Republic of Texas and the challenges people endured as they faced historic battles, the Runaway Scrape and the birth of a new nation. Our “Special Exhibit” room will have additional history to observe and will change quarterly to bring new insight to our past.

 

In 1916, when the Land Department moved from the Old Land Office Building located on the Capitol grounds, a portion of the structure was turned over to DRT for use as their museum. The DRT Museum occupied the second floor of the building until 1989 when restoration of the deteriorating structure began. Four years later, during the centennial year of the DRT, the Daughters purchased a building at 510 East Anderson Lane, Austin, to house the museum and the organization’s headquarters.

In 2024, we will be celebrating our 130th birthday of one of the oldest museums in the state of Texas. We will be opening before you know it, welcoming you to our beautiful building and the treasures stored inside. Right now, though, we are open by appointment only.

Give us a call, we look forward to meeting you.

      

Staff:

Museum Assistant:  Sharon Hill
Phone: 512-339-1997 EXT 107

The Republic of Texas Museum at 510 East Anderson Lane, Austin, TX 78752 closed its doors on Friday, July 27, 2018 at 3:00 pm and will reopen in its new home within the Republic of Texas History Center (RTHC) when completed, at 810 San Marcos Street, Austin TX 78702 on historic Robertson Hill.