Best of Austin®

Best Blast From the Past

Austin History Center

click to enlarge Best Blast From the Past
photo by Jana Birchum
Austin History Center Processing Archivist Kelly Hanus

There’s history in all Austinites’ lives, and the Austin History Center has dedicated itself to preserving it for the past 60-plus years. The city’s historical archive houses thousands of manuscripts, maps, periodicals, photos, and more, documenting Austin’s history from before its founding in 1839 to the present – almost all of which are available to browse on-site. Discover 100-year-old Austin American-Statesman issues via microfilm reader-printers, witness the historic 1989 March on Austin for Lesbian/Gay Equal Rights on VHS, or visit one of the center’s rotating special curated exhibits. And because the AHC is a division of the Austin Public Library, perusing our city’s storied past is totally free.