The History of the Texas State Capitol

We at Austin Ghost Tours have always maintained that if the titled of “Ambassador of Texas” was ever a “thing”, the undisputed winner, tiara and sash would go to Mary. Her authentic twang and greeting of “Howdy, Y’all” as you mosey up the the counter of the Travel Desk at the Capitol Visitors Center are the epitome of Lone Star State hospitality.

She has called AGT Founder Jeanine a friend for over 20 years,

and she calls tour guide Monica “the Ghost Whisperer.” Whenever a visitor, co-worker or even a DPS officer has something strange to report in or around the Texas State Capitol complex, Mary sends that story to us.  She has worked in the Capitol Building, the Visitors Center and the Greer Building where the Highway Department is headquartered.

The Largest State Capitol in The US

Before our illustrious red granite Capitol stood at the crest of Congress Avenue, the Old Stone Capitol housed Texas’ state business for 28 years. The building went up in flames on the rainy afternoon of November 9, 1881.  Its demise was quick and final. A hole had been cut into the stone between two rooms in the basement for a stove pipe. It was believed that a flue had been installed, but it hadn’t. The pipe was attached to the stove in the east part of the Attorney General’s apartment. The other end of the stove pipe led into a storage room for papers and books. After the stove was lit, it took only two hours for the fire to turn the Old Stone Capitol building into a blackened shell. Contributing to its complete destruction was an inadequate water supply.

Actually the Third Texas Capitol, is the largest in North America

Tales of mists, ethereal images, and unexplained lights on the Capitol grounds have been reported for years from Department of Public Safety officers, employees and visitors. In all likelihood, at least a few reports of roving lights and orbs in the trees can be attributed to the nameless, forgotten convicts who gave their labor and their lives in the shadow of the Capitol.

The State Capitol is Haunted!

A lot of history has happened at The Texas State Capitol. These events have led to mysterious apparitions spotted around the Capitol building, as well as plenty of unexplainable phenomena.

Jeanine Plumer, historian and author who wrote Haunted Austin is positive that ghosts who reside in the Capitol building are good spirits.

The Capitol Fire

1983 the Capitol Burns

The Capitol Gift Shop

A Saturday morning, about 7:45 am, building locked up tight and empty except for me and one security guard. But, behind closed doors in the Capitol Gift Shop, I clearly hear women laughing and having a conversation. saying things like: “Look at this one!” and “Over here!” and “This one is darling!” and whispers and giggles and intimate conversation. So, I assume Shawn and Angela who work the store must have come in early, and are getting weirdly excited over items they stocked the shelves with in the first place. But, when I push the door open to say “Good morning!” the gift shop is empty. Completely. Empty. I go back to my counter to stock literature, and the security guard Gary walks up and begins a conversation with me, during the course of which, those women in the gift shop start right up again! Gary asks me “Who’s in there?” and I say, “Beats me! Go look and see!” Ha! Was he surprised! I call them “the Daughters” for their likely membership in the United Daughters of the Confederacy, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and maybe the Daughters of the Alamo. Women dedicated to God, family, the Republic of Texas! This building, which was the site of many monthly Daughter-inspired meetings and two museums dedicated to the histories of the Republic of Texas! Sure, they might occasionally open a window or shut a door or admire someone’s scarf and forget to put it back or rearrange our brochures with a particular affection for wildflower festivals or freak out an employee by walking by him in the attic. But, as ghosts go, I like them! And, I feel they like us, too! (Right after God, family, the Republic of Texas  of course!)

Lady in Red

From Mary at the Visitor Center at the Texas Capitol Complex

The first is the “Lady in Red” at the Capitol. Rumor is that many years ago, she was in love with a legislator who was not available to marry her. Like that never happens. So, she’s given to hanging around the halls and foyers and hoping that things will turn out differently. A visitor reported seeing her one afternoon, and noticing her red Victorian dress, attempted to ask her if there was going to be a reenactment in the building, but she got annoyed and disappeared. She also scared the crap out of one of our custodians here at the Visitors Center when she got annoyed about all the sweeping around the staircase.

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Haunted Austin by Jeanine Plumer/Owner of the Real Austin Ghost Tour

While the Capitol building has plenty of familiar ghosts, it’s only one of several spooky locations in downtown Austin. The Driskill Hotel is surrounded by mysterious so true some not.

Then there’s the Paramount Theater, which has hosted some unfortunate (and deadly) acts throughout its history.

If you want to pass by these famed buildings for yourself and see if you can spot anything out of the ordinary, book an Austin ghost tour with The Original Austin Ghosts Tours tonight.

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What is a Ghost in Austin or Anywhere? Find out More when you join the Original Austin Ghost Tours!