{"name":"Barton Springs Archaeological and Historical District","city":"Austin, Texas","canonical_url":"https://gydeinfo.com/austin/places/barton-springs-archaeological-and-historical-district/","markdown_url":"https://gydeinfo.com/austin/places/barton-springs-archaeological-and-historical-district.md","updated_at":"2026-06-14T18:38:50.053200+00:00","facts":[{"claim":"Human activity at Barton Springs began about 10,000 years ago.","citation":"https://www.afar.com/magazine/barton-springs-pool-in-austin-texas-history","source_title":"In Austin's Barton Springs Pool, History Lives On","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:22.102842+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"2026","confidence":0.9},{"claim":"The springs were under the authority of the Mexican government after it acquired the area from Spain in 1821.","citation":"https://www.afar.com/magazine/barton-springs-pool-in-austin-texas-history","source_title":"In Austin's Barton Springs Pool, History Lives On","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:22.102842+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"1821","confidence":0.85},{"claim":"In 1837, William 'Uncle Billy' Barton bought the land around the springs and informally named it after his daughters, Parthenia and Eliza.","citation":"https://www.afar.com/magazine/barton-springs-pool-in-austin-texas-history","source_title":"In Austin's Barton Springs Pool, History Lives On","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:22.102842+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"1837","confidence":0.94},{"claim":"Andrew Jackson Zilker sold the springs and 50 acres of land to Austin in 1918 for $100,000, conditioned on public park use.","citation":"https://www.afar.com/magazine/barton-springs-pool-in-austin-texas-history","source_title":"In Austin's Barton Springs Pool, History Lives On","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:22.102842+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"1918","confidence":0.92},{"claim":"The Barton Springs Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.","citation":"https://zilkerneighborhood.org/docs/history/A%20Brief%20History%20of%20Barton%20Springs%20Pool%20(from%202008%20Master%20Plan).pdf","source_title":"A Brief History of Barton Springs Pool (from 2008 Master Plan)","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:21.180512+00:00","fact_type":"significance","as_of":"1985","confidence":0.99},{"claim":"Modern occupation of Barton Springs began at about the time Austin was founded, nearly 175 years before the 2008 document.","citation":"https://zilkerneighborhood.org/docs/history/A%20Brief%20History%20of%20Barton%20Springs%20Pool%20(from%202008%20Master%20Plan).pdf","source_title":"A Brief History of Barton Springs Pool (from 2008 Master Plan)","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:21.180512+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"2008","confidence":0.9},{"claim":"Archaeological excavations found middens, camps and shelters, quarries, butchering sites, tools, artifacts and points.","citation":"https://zilkerneighborhood.org/docs/history/A%20Brief%20History%20of%20Barton%20Springs%20Pool%20(from%202008%20Master%20Plan).pdf","source_title":"A Brief History of Barton Springs Pool (from 2008 Master Plan)","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:21.180512+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"2008","confidence":0.97},{"claim":"The springs attracted Native Americans because of abundant plants and wildlife and a ready source of stone for toolmaking.","citation":"https://zilkerneighborhood.org/docs/history/A%20Brief%20History%20of%20Barton%20Springs%20Pool%20(from%202008%20Master%20Plan).pdf","source_title":"A Brief History of Barton Springs Pool (from 2008 Master Plan)","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:21.180512+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"2008","confidence":0.94},{"claim":"The Vara Daniel Site is a deeply stratified sequence of cultural and natural deposits occupying the triangle of land between lower Barton Creek and the Colorado River in Zilker Park in Austin.","citation":"https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/vara-daniel-site","source_title":"Vara Daniel Site: A Deeply Stratified Archaeological Treasure in Austin","source_type":"official","allowed_use":"canonical_data","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:20.218873+00:00","fact_type":"location","as_of":"2026","confidence":0.98},{"claim":"The thickest sequence of deposits and the oldest cultural remains were documented beneath the area that later became the soccer and rugby fields north and south of Barton Springs Road.","citation":"https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/vara-daniel-site","source_title":"Vara Daniel Site: A Deeply Stratified Archaeological Treasure in Austin","source_type":"official","allowed_use":"canonical_data","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:20.218873+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"2026","confidence":0.96},{"claim":"Barton Springs is fed by an underground aquifer and stays about 70 degrees year-round.","citation":"https://livingspringsaustin.org/about-barton-springs","source_title":"About Barton Springs | Living Springs","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:19.221472+00:00","fact_type":"significance","as_of":"2026","confidence":0.98},{"claim":"The history of the springs includes archaeological digs indicating human use about 10,000 years ago.","citation":"https://livingspringsaustin.org/about-barton-springs","source_title":"About Barton Springs | Living Springs","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:19.221472+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"10,000 years ago","confidence":0.95},{"claim":"The springs’ surroundings were significantly reconfigured in the 1930s, creating the 'Rocksitters' era when Barton Springs was Austin’s playground and a meeting place for intellectuals and common folk alike.","citation":"https://livingspringsaustin.org/about-barton-springs","source_title":"About Barton Springs | Living Springs","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:19.221472+00:00","fact_type":"anecdote","as_of":"1930s","confidence":0.91},{"claim":"The 1960 swim-ins re-integrated the pool and led to the integration of recreational facilities in Austin.","citation":"https://livingspringsaustin.org/about-barton-springs","source_title":"About Barton Springs | Living Springs","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:19.221472+00:00","fact_type":"notable_events","as_of":"1960","confidence":0.93},{"claim":"Zilker Metropolitan Park is Austin’s oldest metropolitan park and is located at 2100 Barton Springs Road.","citation":"https://www.austintexas.gov/parks/locations/zilker-metropolitan-park","source_title":"Zilker Metropolitan Park | AustinTexas.gov","source_type":"official","allowed_use":"canonical_data","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:18.165277+00:00","fact_type":"location","as_of":"2026","confidence":0.99},{"claim":"The park is named for Andrew Jackson Zilker, who donated parcels of land starting in 1917.","citation":"https://www.austintexas.gov/parks/locations/zilker-metropolitan-park","source_title":"Zilker Metropolitan Park | AustinTexas.gov","source_type":"official","allowed_use":"canonical_data","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:18.165277+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"1917","confidence":0.98},{"claim":"In 1918, 1923, and 1931, Zilker gave land that included what is now Barton Springs to the city for the community and the schools.","citation":"https://www.austintexas.gov/parks/locations/zilker-metropolitan-park","source_title":"Zilker Metropolitan Park | AustinTexas.gov","source_type":"official","allowed_use":"canonical_data","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:18.165277+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"1931","confidence":0.97},{"claim":"A major era of park development occurred in the 1930s through New Deal programs such as the Civil Works Administration and Civilian Conservation Corps.","citation":"https://www.austintexas.gov/parks/locations/zilker-metropolitan-park","source_title":"Zilker Metropolitan Park | AustinTexas.gov","source_type":"official","allowed_use":"canonical_data","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:18.165277+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"1930s","confidence":0.93},{"claim":"In 1997, Zilker Metropolitan Park was added to the National Register of Historic Places because it includes resources of historical, architectural, and archeological significance.","citation":"https://www.austintexas.gov/parks/locations/zilker-metropolitan-park","source_title":"Zilker Metropolitan Park | AustinTexas.gov","source_type":"official","allowed_use":"canonical_data","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:18.165277+00:00","fact_type":"significance","as_of":"1997","confidence":0.98},{"claim":"The Barton Springs Archaeological and Historical District is centered on Barton Springs Pool in Zilker Metropolitan Park in Austin, Texas, and the site’s use dates to pre-Spanish settlement with evidence of Native American occupation.","citation":"https://www.tclf.org/landscapes/barton-springs-pool","source_title":"Barton Springs Pool","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:17.087873+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"1985","confidence":0.98},{"claim":"The district was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1985.","citation":"https://www.tclf.org/landscapes/barton-springs-pool","source_title":"Barton Springs Pool","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:17.087873+00:00","fact_type":"significance","as_of":"1985","confidence":0.99},{"claim":"William Barton built a house near one of the springs circa 1838 and encouraged visitors to swim and fish on his property.","citation":"https://www.tclf.org/landscapes/barton-springs-pool","source_title":"Barton Springs Pool","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:17.087873+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"circa 1838","confidence":0.96},{"claim":"Andrew Zilker purchased the land in 1901 and later deeded it to the City in 1917 for public enjoyment.","citation":"https://www.tclf.org/landscapes/barton-springs-pool","source_title":"Barton Springs Pool","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:17.087873+00:00","fact_type":"history","as_of":"1917","confidence":0.97},{"claim":"A masonry 'streamline moderne' bathhouse was designed in 1947 by Dan Driscoll.","citation":"https://www.tclf.org/landscapes/barton-springs-pool","source_title":"Barton Springs Pool","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:17.087873+00:00","fact_type":"architecture","as_of":"1947","confidence":0.95}],"sources":[{"title":"In Austin's Barton Springs Pool, History Lives On","url":"https://www.afar.com/magazine/barton-springs-pool-in-austin-texas-history","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:22.102842+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"A Brief History of Barton Springs Pool (from 2008 Master Plan)","url":"https://zilkerneighborhood.org/docs/history/A%20Brief%20History%20of%20Barton%20Springs%20Pool%20(from%202008%20Master%20Plan).pdf","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:21.180512+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"Vara Daniel Site: A Deeply Stratified Archaeological Treasure in Austin","url":"https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/vara-daniel-site","source_type":"official","allowed_use":"canonical_data","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:20.218873+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"About Barton Springs | Living Springs","url":"https://livingspringsaustin.org/about-barton-springs","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:19.221472+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"Zilker Metropolitan Park | AustinTexas.gov","url":"https://www.austintexas.gov/parks/locations/zilker-metropolitan-park","source_type":"official","allowed_use":"canonical_data","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:18.165277+00:00","license":"unknown"},{"title":"Barton Springs Pool","url":"https://www.tclf.org/landscapes/barton-springs-pool","source_type":"manual","allowed_use":"facts_with_citation","retrieved_at":"2026-06-14T18:29:17.087873+00:00","license":"unknown"}],"commercial_actions":[],"source_policy":{"booking_links_are_evidence":false,"denied_as_evidence":["google_places","google","yelp","tripadvisor"],"allowed_uses":["canonical_data","facts_with_citation","anecdote"]}}