East Austin Black History Walk Tour

Our guide will meet you by the benches at the front of the building to discuss the history and start the tour. Guests will learn about the history of African Americans in East Austin and the creation of the "Negro District" in 1928 by the City of Austin. We will discuss the historical formation of the neighborhood and the movement of African Americans from throughout the Austin area to East Austin. They will see the African American Heritage Cultural Center's mural dedicated to influential African Americans in Austin. Guests will also engage with the Dedrick-Hamilton House, which was constructed by formerly enslaved persons by the 1890s. It was continuously lived in by family members until the late 20th Century.

After passing by the Rhapsody Mural guests will learn about the Historic Victory Grill's emergence during the Jim Crow period. They will also learn about the Chittlin Circuit and Austin's African American music history.

Guests will visit the historic African American church which was founded in 1865 at the end of the Civil War. Guide will discuss how the church was founded by freedman.Guests will learn about the role of religious institutions in the African American community. Austin's oldest institution of higher learning, an HBCU Huston-Tillotson, was founded in this church's basement. Guests will also see the "Lynching in Travis County" marker that's on Wesley's lawn. This important marker allows for guests and guide to engage in a conversation about lynching in Austin and ways that African Americans resisted such violence through community and institution building.

Tour concludes at the George Washington Carver Center. Here guests will learn about the Austin's Black community's petition to have the segregated branch of the public library physically moved to the 'Negro District.' The guide will explain reasoning as to why African Americans renamed segregated institutions after prominent members of the Black community. Guests will also engage with the Voyage to Soulsville mural painted by John Fisher. This mural is important to Austin's Black community as it was finished in 1986. John Fisher is an Austin native and was trained by legendary artist, Dr. John T. Biggers at Texas Southern University. The tour guide will interpret the mural make direct connections to other aspects discussed on the tour.