Gethsemane Lutheran Church and Luther Hall (Boundary Increase)
historic place
Gethsemane Lutheran Church and Luther Hall are located in Austin, Travis County, Texas. The Gethsemane Lutheran Church was organized by Swedish pioneers in 1868. Its main building, a Gothic Revival structure, was erected in 1883. This church notably incorporated salvaged bricks from the 1881 Texas State Capitol fire and doors from the University of Texas at Austin's Old Main building. Adjacent to the church stands Luther Hall, constructed in 1940. This Modern Movement style building originally served as a Sunday school and community gathering space. In 1961, the Gethsemane congregation relocated. The State of Texas then acquired both the church and Luther Hall, integrating them into the State Capitol Complex. Today, these historic structures house the offices and library of the Texas Historical Commission. The Gethsemane Lutheran Church was designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1962 and added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. The National Register listing was expanded to include Luther Hall in 2004, recognizing the historical significance of both buildings.