Austin Hall, Huntsville, Texas
historic place
Austin Hall, in Huntsville, Walker County, is a historic educational building. The Presbyterian Church established Austin College in 1849, constructing this Greek Revival structure between 1851 and 1852. Its cornerstone was laid on June 24, 1851, and it opened in October 1852. General Sam Houston participated in its dedication. Austin Hall served Austin College until 1876, then a private academy. In 1879, it became the first building for the new Sam Houston Normal Institute, now Sam Houston State University. It is the oldest continuously-used state-owned higher education facility west of the Mississippi River. Designated a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1964 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2013, Austin Hall was restored in 1986 following a 1982 fire. Today, it hosts university events, reflecting its enduring importance to Texas education.