The Early Tales of O. Henry

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Did you know that one of America's most famous short-story writers once called Austin home, long before he took the pen name O. Henry? Between 1893 and 1895, William Sydney Porter lived in this very house, writing his earliest stories.

Porter would later capture the world's imagination with classics like "The Gift of the Magi," "The Ransom of Red Chief," and "The Last Leaf." But back then, he was just a local resident. Decades later, in 1934, his former home was restored and opened as a museum, eventually finding its place on the National Register of Historic Places. It didn't stay in its original spot, though; it was moved from 307 East 4th Street to its current home at Brush Square.

Today, the museum preserves Porter's literary legacy and hosts the lively, annual O. Henry Pun-Off, where wordsmiths gather for a spoken pun competition. As you walk, think about the quiet rooms where those early tales first took shape, proving that sometimes, the greatest stories start in the simplest of places.

Updated June 2026