1955 - The Austin-Travis County Collection is created as a part of the Austin Public Library.

1955 - Students compete in the first Historical Essay Contest sponsored by the Austin-Travis County Collection. The contest will be held each year for the next 20 years.

1960 - The Niles-Graham-Pease family papers are donated to the Austin-Travis County Collection nearly quadrupling the collection's size.

1961 - Katherine Drake Hart becomes curator of the Austin-Travis County Collection.

1965 - Friends of the Austin Public Library begin Waterloo Press in order to feature manuscript and photographic material from the Austin-Travis County Collection.

1975 - Audray Bateman Randle becomes curator of the Austin-Travis County Collection.

1979 - The original 1933 Austin Public Library building is occupied solely by the Austin-Travis County Collection when the new central library is complete.

1980 - Austin History Center Association is formed to support the creation of the Austin History Center.

1983 - The Austin-Travis County Collection formally becomes the Austin History Center.

1983 - Judge Trueman O'Quinn donates his substantial collection of O. Henry material to the Austin History Center.

1987 - The Austin History Center constructs a photo reproduction lab to facilitate preservation of photographic images.

1989 - Biruta Celmins Kearl becomes curator of the Austin History Center.

2000 - The Austin History Center creates new Neighborhood Liaison positions (now called Community Archivists) to broaden its acquisitions program.

2003 - Sue Soy becomes curator of the Austin History Center.

2005 - The Austin History Center celebrates its 50th anniversary.

2008 - Michael C. Miller becomes manager of the Center in March after serving as the Acting Manager since October 2007

2013 - The Austin History Center's building at 810 Guadalupe turns 80 years old.

2018 -  The Austin History Center moves unprocessed collections and General Collection materials to the 3rd floor and 9 staff members into 4th floor offices in the John Henry Faulk building, vacated when the Central Library moved to its new location in 2017. 

2021 – Michael C. Miller leaves his position as manager of the Austin History Center. Nancy Toombs is installed as interim manager of the Center, in addition to continuing her position as Head of Public Services since July 2011.

2022 – Danielle’ McGhee becomes manager of the Austin History Center.

2022 – Renovations begin to the interior of the John Henry Faulk building and to the exterior of the 1933 building.