Beginning in 1955 as 2 drawers of vertical files in the Austin Public Library’s Reference Department, the Austin History Center provides the public with information about the history, current events, and activities of Austin and Travis County and also serves as the City of Austin archives. The collection includes over 3000 feet of archives and manuscripts, over 1 million photographic images, over 30,000 hours of film and video, thousands of audio recordings, nearly 1000 maps, over 3000 periodical titles, and more than 35,000 volumes documenting the story of Texas’ capitol. The collection is housed in the historic 1933 Central Library building.
