Austin, Texas story
Ten Thousand Years of Barton Springs
Long before Austin was a city, humans were drawn to the cool, refreshing waters of Barton Springs. Archaeological evidence shows that Native Americans utilized these underground s…
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Long before Austin was a city, humans were drawn to the cool, refreshing waters of Barton Springs. Archaeological evidence shows that Native Americans utilized these underground springs nearly ten thousand years ago, seeking out its pure flow. In 1838, a settler named William Barton built a house near one of the springs and encouraged visitors to swim and fish on his property.
Decades later, in 1901, Andrew Zilker purchased the land, eventually donating it to the City of Austin starting in 1917 so the public could enjoy the water forever. Today, the springs maintain a constant temperature of sixty-eight to seventy degrees year-round, fed by an underground aquifer. As you walk, imagine the generations of swimmers who, for thousands of years, have sought relief from the hot Texas sun in these very same waters.
Updated June 2026