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    History of Austin

    The stately story of how 'the most historic house in Texas' came to downtown Austin

    Shelley Bueche
    Sep 7, 2020 | 1:00 pm

    Before Texas was annexed to the United States of America in 1845, Austin was home to the president of the Republic of Texas. President Mirabeau Lamar lived in the President's House at the corner of 7th and San Jacinto streets, where the Omni Austin Hotel Downtown is today.

    After a permanent president's home was built in Washington-on-the Brazos, duplicating the ramshackle wooden home in downtown Austin, the city became the site of the Texas Governor's Mansion.

    Building "the most historic house in Texas"
    Billed as "the most historic house in Texas," the mansion was built in 1854-58 with $14,500 in funding from the sale of donated lots in Austin. The mansion was established before the Texas Capitol, which was later built a short walk from the mansion on Congress Avenue in 1885.

    Until the Texas Governor's Mansion became reality, the state's first four governors stayed in local hotels or boardinghouses when the legislature was in session. Once the Texas Governor's Mansion became a reality, furnishings from the President's Home were safely installed for posterity.

    The first residents of the home were Gov. Elisha Pease, wife Lucadia, and their three daughters. Not only did Governor Pease have the distinction of being the first resident of the mansion, but he also served as both the 5th and 13th governor of the Lone Star State, ensuring that he lived in the home not once, but twice.

    Mansion's changes over history
    Although minor changes to the home are typically made at the beginning of new gubernatorial administrations, major structural adaptations have been made throughout the mansion's history to ensure livability and comfort in the home. Among these updates was gas lighting added in the 1870s, telephones and indoor plumbing installed in the 1880s, and electricity wired in the building in the 1890s.

    In the late 1970s, when Gov. Bill Clements was in office, $1 million was set aside for extensive renovations to the mansion. To help oversee education and mansion activities, nonprofit The Friends of the Texas Governor's Mansion was established. The Friends successfully raised an additional $3 million toward general repair and refurbishing.

    In June 2008, the Texas Governor's Mansion was torched by a Molotov cocktail. Fortunately, then-governor Rick Perry and his family weren't in residence due to renovations. The fire was catastrophic and firefighters were fighting the blaze well into the next morning. Many locals thought it was a miracle that the home was even saved. Although a suspect was identified, charges were never filed and the infamous incident remains a mystery.

    In 2012, more renovations were implemented and the grounds as well as the home were adapted to ADA regulations. According to Erika Herndon, executive director of the Friends of the Governor's Mansion, "a sloping path" was added from the gardens into the home, as well as a new, accessible public entrance at the southeast corner of the grounds.

    Making the mansion "a home"
    Local historian and author Carl McQueary's book Dining at the Governor's Mansion, not only includes recipes served in the mansion throughout history, but stories about the first families and their experiences living in the home.

    When asked about his favorite recipes, McQueary shared: "I am a fan of Mrs. Ferguson's [aka "Ma" Ferguson, who served as governor from 1925 to 1927 and 1933 to 1935] Russian Rocks, Mrs. Sayers' Sunshine Cake, and almost anything from Mrs. Shivers. I loved Nelly Connally's anecdote about their favorite meal being buttermilk and corn bread."

    Mansion guests especially enjoy Laura Bush's — spouse of Governor George W. Bush —Cowboy Cookies.

    More Texas-sized tidbits
    The Texas Governor's Mansion is the oldest governor's home west of the Mississippi. The oldest mansion in the country is in Richmond, Virginia. It was opened in 1813.

    Four states (Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Arizona, and Vermont) have governor's mansions outside of the Capital City.

    Former Republic of Texas president turned Texas Governor Sam Houston installed an extra-large bed in the southeast bedroom of the home. Later, the Houston's first family's son, Temple Lea, was born in the bed and became the first person born in the mansion.

    The Texas Governor's Mansion remains closed to the general public, however virtual tours are offered.

    A 2008 fire nearly destroyed the mansion.

    Texas Governor's Mansion 2008 fire
      
    Photo courtesy of Austin Fire Department
    A 2008 fire nearly destroyed the mansion.
    downtowncity-news-roundup
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    Outside Ideas

    New podcast provides on-the-ground news from Texas state parks

    Brianna Caleri
    May 20, 2025 | 10:15 am
    Better Outside podcast host Morgan O’Hanlon
    Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)
    Podcast host Morgan O’Hanlon captures ambient sound from a river.

    Outdoorsy Texans have a new way to keep track of conservation initiatives within Texas' parks. The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) will launch a new podcast, Better Outside, on May 21 on all major podcast platforms.

    A press release promises that listeners will "travel the woods and waters of Texas through an array of awe-inspiring stories about conservation, recreation and the outdoors."

    The podcast does mean "travel" in a literal sense, taking listeners out in the field to experience the environments firsthand. They'll have a knowledgeable guide in host Morgan O’Hanlon, who is a senior writer at Texas Parks & Wildlife magazine, as well as TPWD executive director David Yoskowitz.

    “People are at the core of conservation work in Texas,” said Yoskowitz in the release. “I’m excited for you to hear their voices straight from the field, so they can share why the work they do matters and the impact it makes.”

    David Yoskowitz and Morgan O\u2019Hanlon recording Better Outside podcastDavid Yoskowitz and Morgan O’Hanlon record in the studio as well as in the field.Photo courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD)

    Some examples of the work featured include creating a new trail across the state, touring an existing park, and restoring bighorn sheep (which were on the brink of being wiped out by 1900) in West Texas. Another episode in the Hill Country follows feral hog bounty hunters. Although well-informed listeners may already know about some of these subjects, the podcast specifically hopes to focus on hidden gems and expanding horizons.

    “I love adventure sports and am excited to inspire people to try new, and sometimes scary, things,” said O’Hanlon. “In our episode on the Devils River, I took my non-outdoorsy mom on one of the state’s most feared paddling trips. You’ll hear straight from her about the challenges I put her through — and why she would do it again.”

    Better Outside isn't TPWD’s first podcast. It was Under the Texas Sky, which launched in 2019 and followed similar themes, with a notable focus on culture. Some episodes followed the Indigenous history of Texas parks, cowboy poets, and chefs who are involved in sustainable farming and cooking. Under the Texas Sky stopped being made when its host, longtime Passport to Texas radio host Cecilia Nasti, retired.

    The new podcast is sponsored by the Austin-based Whole Earth Provision Co., which originally opened in 1970 as a real-life manifestation of the Whole Earth Catalog, and is now a cross between a camping, home goods, and outdoorsy gift store. It operates six locations in total in Austin, San Antonio, Houston, and Dallas.

    podcastparksstate parksnaturesustainabilityconservation
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