History of Austin

Here's the unsung history of downtown Austin's famous Symphony Square

Modern day Symphony Square has a rich history.

Photo courtesy of Waller Creek Conservancy

Today's Symphony Square is home to both the Austin Symphony Orchestra and Waller Creek Conservancy, but the area's fascinating legacy is often overlooked.

Located on Red River Street between 11th and 12th streets, Symphony Square is comprised of four limestone buildings and an outdoor amphitheater overlooking Waller Creek. Originally a private homestead, the downtown space has transformed into a community gathering spot, hosting concerts, family events, and the anticipated Creek Show, but with history is a lyrical as its name.

A free man's home
Symphony Square was originally home to Jeremiah Hamilton, who was enslaved for almost 20 years before becoming a free man, and who built the homestead (the building that now houses the Austin Symphony) in 1871 after teaching himself to read and write.

Hamilton became among the first African-American citizens to serve in the Texas Legislature, and eventually served as secretary to the Central Committee of Colored Men. As a politician, Hamilton was an inspirational role model for all seeking political office — particularly those in the African-American community.

During his time in office, Hamilton's chief interests were in the fields of education and municipal reform. (In fact, Hamilton was often compared to noted abolitionist Frederick Douglass.) Upon retirement, Hamilton spent time with his family and benefited the community through his role in the newspaper industry.

Not much is known about Hamilton's later years or when he died. In 1905, Hamilton's name and records disappeared from Austin directories, but his former home remains a visual reminder of this unsung hero.

From neglected neighborhood to downtown attraction
In the early 1970s, Austin Symphony board member Peggy Brown and community philanthropist Jane Sibley began trying to find a prime spot for the symphony's headquarters. Working closely with the Urban Renewal team (an agency with funding provided by both the city and federal government) and the local Heritage Society.

Sibley writes in her biography that since the square's buildings were built by early Austin settlers, extensive modifications were in order. They chose the site at 11th and Red River streets, which housed the Jeremiah Hamilton building, the New Orleans Mercantile building (a former nightclub), the Doyle House (now home to the Woman's Symphony League), and the Hardeman House (which was originally relocated from East Austin and housed Serrano's Cafe until 2015 before becoming the headquarters of Waller Creek Conservancy in 2018).

Among the improvements was adding a basement to Hardeman House for a bar. Sibley writes in her book, Jane's Window: My Spirited Life in West Texas and Austin, that walls were waterproofed and concrete pillars were also installed for the space.

In addition to modifying historic buildings on the property, a Greek-style 350-seat amphitheater was built. "We all felt [the amphitheater] would provide increased public awareness of our symphony orchestra since its buildings were located at one of the busiest intersections in Austin," Sibley writes.

The Symphony Square restoration project officially began in 1971 and was completed for the grand opening festivities in April 1978. While the downtown areas in many cities across the nation suffered from neglect in the 1970s, Austin's Symphony Square project helped bring a renaissance to this treasured area just north of downtown. Even today, the Jane Dunn Sibley Symphony Square (its official name) is believed to be the only restoration project in the U.S. to house a symphony orchestra.

Winding through the future
As Austin continues to transform downtown into a destination for all, the revitalization of Waller Creek, which runs through Symphony Square, has a become a standout project. Named for Edwin Waller, the first mayor of Austin, who planned the downtown street grid plan, the massive public works project is currently overseen by the Waller Creek Conservancy.

Led by CEO Peter Mullan, the conservancy moved into their new Symphony Square headquarters in November 2018. "Putting down roots at Symphony Square has been a wonderful milestone for the organization," Mullan says. "The site has such a rich history, as does the entire creek, and being located here has expanded ways to engage the community."

The conservancy's programs will focus from arts to culture, including film and music, nature and the environment, health and wellness, and civic dialogue. The conservancy invites readers to continue sharing stories by emailing info@wallercreek.org.

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San Antonio leads Texas on ending horse-drawn carriage rides by 2030

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Horses will no longer pull carriages on the streets of downtown San Antonio.

San Antonio has pulled off something that the rest of Texas has yet to do, but it didn't come without some contentious conversations. City Council has unanimously voted (with one abstention) to phase out the use of horse-drawn carriages over the next five years. That means by January 1, 2030, there will be none on the streets at all; instead, there will be electric carriages.

These plans have been in the making since 2022 — if not always at the same level of intensity — when District 2 Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez and District 3 Councilmember Phyllis Viagran wrote up some concerns about the horses' wellbeing. A special session at the end of October 2024 hinted to San Antonians that the end for this practice was neigh — sorry, nigh — and the final vote was made on December 12. In addition to accepting the plan, it extended its timeframe by two years.

The initial proposal included worries about the horses' exposure to traffic and pollution, as well how their presence might exacerbate those issues for the environment at large by slowing traffic. It also raised concerns about the effects of standing or walking on hard surfaces for too long, or spending time in extreme weather.

At the December 12 meeting, San Antonians gave impassioned speeches about animal welfare — both to call attention to the need for better conditions and to defend the reputations and jobs of current horse drivers — but it wasn't the first time the council heard from the public about the issue.

In a prior city survey, 50,476 respondents weighed in. Of those respondents, 51.98 percent said they liked the idea to "Transition horse-drawn carriages to electric carriages and pedicabs and ban horse drawn carriages completely." There were alternative solutions listed, but respondents were less drawn to them.

A cultural divide emerged in the data and continued in the December meeting: some people avoided the carriages because they worried about the treatment of the horses, while others enjoyed them because of their historical echoes and living legacy. Many speakers in favor of the plan used this to form their argument, raising questions about history versus progress.

More tangible objections to the plan hinged on the businesses — specifically five companies — and jobs that would be lost, which was the main factor behind extending the adjustment period.

Discussions about the particulars of the electric vehicles are still to come, as confirmed in the discussion near the end of the meeting. Councilmember Jalen McKee-Rodriguez addressed concerns about what would happen to the horses, mentioning the Brady Hunter Foundation as a future partner in finding them rescue homes.

Some council members also brought up rhetorical questions about animal exploitation by groups like Sea World, the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo, military and police forces, and even various groups in the Fiesta parade, although these did not come with a formal motion to pick the issues up.

This decision could have a ripple effect on other Texas cities. Dallas has recently considered a similar ban, but it appears to have stalled; Austin's attempts at a ban have been unsuccessful, but according to the Austin-American Statesman, only one operator is permitted to bring horses downtown. She declines to do so because the long hours are unfair to her and the horses. Houston does have horse-drawn carriages, and there seems to be little conversation about banning them.

Cities like Chicago and Salt Lake City have led the charge in the United States with some of the most prominent successful bans. Other cities around the world with bans include Brussels and Guadalajara, which both switched to electric models. Bans that have been around for years, like Guadalajara's and Prague's, still aren't out of the woods — people are still pushing back on the decision, so it sounds like San Antonio still has much work cut out for it.

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