Congress Avenue Historic District
Congress Avenue Historic District The Congress Avenue Historic District belongs to the National Register of Historic Places, representing the historical heart of Austin, Texas. It is essentially a six-block section of Congress Avenue running south from the Texas State Capitol. This district was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1979 and hosts a wide array of architectural styles from the 19th century through the mid-20th century. A place of historic significance, the street served primarily as a commercial corridor for over 150 years, reflecting the city's transition from a small town in the 1850s into a bustling urban center. The evolution of Congress Avenue has been marked by various stages, including stagecoach and railroad eras, the rise of the automobile, suburbanization, and urban renewal. The district is home to many landmark buildings of Austin, including The Paramount Theatre and Scarbrough Building. The Paramount Theatre, a historic movie palace located at 713 Congress Avenue, opened in 1915 and has served as a venue for performance arts and classic cinema ever since. The Scarbrough Building, on the other hand, was completed in 1910 and stands as Austin's first skyscraper, symbolizing the city's investment in commerce and urban growth. The Congress Avenue Historic District doesn't disappoint when it comes to showcasing Austin's cultural, economic, historical, and architectural narratives captured within one vibrant area.