Neills-Cochran House Museum

What to know

The Neill-Cochran House Museum, located at 2310 San Gabriel Street, is widely regarded as one of Austin’s three most important historic residences. Built between 1855 and 1856 as a suburban estate on 17.5 acres northwest of town, this striking two-story Greek Revival landmark was designed and constructed by master builder Abner Cook for Washington and Mary Hill. Though the Hills never actually occupied the home, Cook’s architectural genius is on full display, featuring massive 26-foot-tall wooden columns supporting an overhanging porch ceiling, alongside his signature "sheaf of wheat" balusters. Over the decades, the limestone rubble property adapted to survive war, neglect, and urban growth. In 1856, the Hills leased the home to the State of Texas to serve as a temporary site and dormitory for the Texas Institute for the Blind. It later housed Texas Lieutenant Governor Fletcher Stockdale. Following the Civil War, during the Reconstruction era, the federal government leased the property to operate as a Federal War hospital for soldiers. Eventually, the Cochran family purchased the estate, later selling it in 1958 to the National Society of The Colonial Dames of America in The State of Texas, who opened it as a museum in 1962. Today, the site stands as the sole museum in Austin dedicated exclusively to telling the city's story from its 1839 founding through the early 20th century. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and designated as a Texas Historical Commission landmark. Visitors can explore historically furnished rooms and rotating art and history exhibitions. Crucially, the site preserves Austin's only intact and accessible slave quarters. This outbuilding, featuring a dirt floor, bare stone walls, and ladder access to its second floor, provides a vital, sobering look at the lives of the enslaved and free people who worked on the estate.

Visitor tips

• Visit between Wednesday and Sunday from 11:00 AM to 4:00 PM when the museum is open to the public.
• The first floor is fully wheelchair accessible, and interpretive materials are provided for the second floor.
• Take time to explore the slave quarters outbuilding to see its original dirt floor and bare stone walls.

Nearby context

Located in north-central Austin, the Neill-Cochran House Museum sits in a vibrant neighborhood just a few minutes' walk west of the University of Texas at Austin campus. Originally constructed as an isolated suburban estate on the outskirts of town, the property is now surrounded by the bustling growth of the capital city. Its central location makes it an easy, highly accessible historical detour for anyone exploring the university area or the surrounding residential streets.