History Day 2024

Travis County Courthouses: A Retrospective

This year, History Day will highlight the Courthouses of Travis County. From the first official courthouse built in 1855, to the historic Heman Marion Sweatt Courthouse, the site of a landmark civil rights case, to the newly opened Civil and Family Court Facility, Travis County’s courthouses have served as the backdrop to rulings and resolutions that have shaped the lives of countless citizens.

Please join us for an opening reception of the exhibit, on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, from 12:00-1:00, in the Hall of Government at 700 Lavaca Street. A proclamation will be read during Commissioners Court and refreshments will be served at the opening reception. The exhibit will be on display until May of 2025.

RSVP online at https://www.facebook.com/events/1686386365549011.

November 19, 2024, 12:00-1:00p
700 Lavaca, Hall of Government
Austin, TX 78701

Digital Archives

New! The Travis County Archives is pleased to announce our new Digital Archives site is now live at https://traviscountyarchives.starter1ua.preservica.com/! Check back frequently as new materials are continuously being added!

Research

Search our finding aids - Online Repository

View our digital collections - Digital Collections

Genealogy

Find genealogical resources at the county - Travis County Genealogical Resources

Exhibits

Explore Travis County's history through interactive online exhibits - online exhibits

View in person exhibits on Travis County history – exhibits in the hall of government

About the Archives

The Travis County Archives is a division of the ITS (Information and Technology Services) Department of Travis County.

The mission of the Travis County Archives is to serve the government and the community of Travis County by documenting, preserving, and making available its records and history.

The Travis County Archives documents the functions and activities of the Travis County government, supports the conduct of the government by preserving and providing access to essential county records, and maintains the history of the county and its community through the preservation of records with historical value.

Contact Us

Currently the Archives is open by appointment only. We are located in the Travis County Sheriff’s Building on Airport Blvd. We are open 8am to 5pm Monday through Friday.

Please call or email to set up an appointment for research.

5555 Airport Boulevard, Room 507
Austin, Texas, 78751

(512) 854-4675 | Email

Follow Us on Instagram

The Travis County Instagram page posts interesting finds in the collections, photos of historical places in Travis County and news about events and updates in the archives.

Travis County History

Travis County, located in Central Texas, was established on January 25, 1840, by an act of the Fourth Congress of the Republic of Texas, days after the community of Waterloo had been renamed Austin and designated the capital city. The county was named after William Barret Travis, legendary commander of the Republic of Texas forces at the Battle of the Alamo.

For more information on the history of Travis County, please visit the links below:

An Introduction to the History of Travis County

A Timeline of Travis County Events

History of the Travis County Courthouses

Travis County Elected Officials

Sweatt v. Painter and Travis County