Nationally Registered Historical Buildings

Austin Hall

Austin Hall, the oldest building on the campus of Sam Houston State University, was designed in the Greek Revival style in 1852. Situated on top of the site once known as "Capitol Hill," the two-story, red-orange colored brick building with large white Tuscan columns and onion domed cupola is the anchor building at the north end of the campus quad in the historic heart of the campus. Located at 1741 University Avenue, Austin Hall has two equally important elevations, one facing 17th Street to the north and the other facing the campus quad to the south; both serve as main entrances to the building, although the north entrance is the original. Austin Hall has been remodeled and then restored several times throughout history, but today appears very similar to when it was completed by Huntsville builder W.M. Barrett in 1853. One of the most interesting architectural features has developed over time as students have carved their names into the soft molded bricks on the lower six feet of the building. The 80' x 50' rectangular plan has two 42' x 12' rectangular porches on each of the long elevations facing north and south. Four double-height Tuscan columns finished with Portland cement plaster support the porch roofs. Each elevation is lined with tall nine over nine lite double hung wood windows. The three wood doors on the exterior have transom windows once used to ventilate the schoolrooms. The entire building, including the porches, is capped with a large wood cornice with simple detailing. A 22' tall octagon shaped cupola clad with wood siding and four pointed arch openings facing the cardinal directions sits in the center of the flat-seam, hipped metal roof. The cupola is topped with a metal onion dome with a ball and spire finial. 

Austin Hall was the first building constructed on the site once known as "Capitol Hill," which overlooks the city of Huntsville and the surrounding countryside. It stood alone on the hilltop until September 1888 when construction began on a Gothic Revival building known as "Old Main" a few feet to the north. In 1982, Old Main burned to the ground, severely damaging Austin Hall and prompting a major restoration. Old Main was not reconstructed, but portions of the foundation walls were developed into a memorial garden and today, in 2012, the north facade of Austin Hall is once again visible from a great distance. 

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