The Austin History Center offers many resources to help you research a property's history in Austin, Texas. These resources may help you find:

• When a structure was built
• Who owned, lived in, or used the property
• The architect or builder
• Building materials used in the structure

Property research can take a lot of time, depending on what you are trying to find. Austin History Center staff can suggest resources, provide access to materials, and show you how to use them. However, you will be responsible for doing the research.

Please see the Property Research Guide to get started.

Your search may also involve other City offices or government agencies. The Austin History Center does not have complete records for every type of property information or every date range. Staff can refer you to other offices or agencies when needed.

Before You Begin
It is helpful to have:

• The property address
• The legal description of the property, including the subdivision or addition name, lot, and block number
• The Geographic ID number

Helpful Resources

Online Newspaper Databases

• Use your Austin Public Library card to search the Austin American-Statesman databases and other online resources.
• You can also access these resources onsite at any Austin Public Library location or at the Austin History Center, with or without a Library card.
• Travis Central Appraisal District - Find general information about the Appraisal District and the ad valorem property tax system in Texas, as well as information regarding specific properties within the district.

City Directories
City directories can help you:

• Look up an address to see who lived there or what businesses operated there over time
• Look up a person or business name to find an address
• Find demographic, employment, or other information about occupants

City directory research at the Austin History Center is self-serve when the Reading Room is open.

You can also search online for pre-1927 city directories through the Portal to Texas History. The Texas State Library and Archives and Briscoe Center for American History at UT also have city directory collections.

Sanborn Maps

• Sanborn Maps of Austin and Manor are available online through UT's PCL Maps Collection and via the Library of Congress.
• These maps can show building footprints and the materials used to build structures.

City of Austin Property Profile
The City of Austin’s Property Profile website can help you view aerial photos of an area over time.

To view aerial photos:

1. Search for the property address.
2. Select the map icon in the lower-left corner of the map.
3. Toggle to the aerial view.

Google Maps also has a historical view feature, but the City’s Property Profile tool includes aerial photos that may go back as far as 1940. The Austin History Center may also have additional aerial photos in hard copy.

See also