Little Campus: A Century of Change in Austin
historic place
Little Campus in Austin, Texas, began its history in 1857 as the Texas Asylum for the Blind. The original Italianate-style building, now known as the Arno Nowotny Building, was designed by architect Abner H. Cook. Following the Civil War, General George Armstrong Custer temporarily resided here during Reconstruction. The asylum returned in 1866 and operated until 1915. During World War I, the site hosted a military pilot training program. In the mid-1920s, the University of Texas at Austin acquired the complex, which then became known as "Little Campus." It served as university dormitories for both men and women. The site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. In 1987, it was officially renamed the "Heman Sweatt Campus," honoring civil rights pioneer Heman Marion Sweatt. A historical marker for the Heman Sweatt Campus was erected in 1988 by The University of Texas at Austin. This location reflects a century of institutional change and public service in Texas.