Old Quarry Site
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
Limestone quarried at this site was hauled to Congress Avenue by oxen and used in constructing the 1853 Texas Capitol Building. The structure burned in 1881, but stone from the capitol ruins was later used in several Austin building projects. The quarry site was originally part of the land granted to Tennessee native George Washington Davis (1806-84) for his service in the Texas Revolution. Later inherited by his daughter-in-law Elvira T. Davis, the land was maintained as the family homestead for many years. The Davis Cemetery is located nearby (.25 mi. SW). (1981)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
Limestone cut from this quarry was hauled by ox teams to Congress Avenue to build the 1853 Texas Capitol, one of Austin's first monumental public buildings. When that statehouse burned in 1881, stone salvaged from its ruins found new life in later Austin construction. The land itself had been granted to Tennessee native George Washington Davis for his service in the Texas Revolution and long remained the Davis family homestead.
Why it matters
The site connects the raw material of Texas's early statehouse to the settlers and soldiers whose land grants underwrote the young republic's growth.
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Related people
- · George Washington Davis
Themes & tags
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