Written by Mary Jackson. Long time employee at the General Land Office
In this photo from the 1980’s, the Texas Travel Center used to be situated in the foyer of the Texas State Capitol. The young woman to the right, behind the desk is Mary Jackson.
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 about 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, Jefferson Davis and this building! This building, which was the site of many monthly Daughter-inspired meetings and two museums dedicated to the histories of the confederacy and 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 and Jeffferson Davis, of course!)
