The Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building
historical marker
The Lorenzo de Zavala State Archives and Library Building is in Austin, Travis County, Texas. Opened in 1961, this building houses the Texas State Library and Archives Commission. It preserves state government archival records and significant historical documents, such as the Texas Declaration of Independence. The building is named for Manuel Lorenzo Justiniano de Zavala y Sáenz, a statesman born in Yucatán in 1788. He was a key figure in Texas independence, signing the Texas Declaration of Independence and serving as the first vice president of the Republic of Texas. The building was renamed in his honor in 1973. A historical marker was erected here in 2009 by ALTAFF, the Texas Center for the Book, and the Friends of Libraries & Archives of Texas. That year, it was also designated a National Literary Landmark. This site remains a vital repository for Texas's historical records.