Explore the homestead of Austin's oldest residence at the French Legation State Historic Site, where you will discover how the Texas settlement and the growth of one of the capital city’s most vibrant neighborhoods came to be. Tour the museum, whose original structure was built to accommodate the diplomatic outpost for the French chargé d’affaires to the Republic of Texas, Alphonse Dubois, after France recognized the Republic of Texas as a sovereign nation.
The breathtaking beauty and unusual construction of the Texas Capitol are the stuff of legends in the Lone Star State. View artifacts of Texas history, including the original flag from the Battle of San Jacinto, historical paintings, and some of the original Senator desks from 1888. Take a guided tour through the Capitol Building, which has 400 rooms and more than 900 windows. Then check out the Capitol Grounds, which spans 22 acres featuring historical buildings, 17 monuments, and beautifully landscaped lawns.
Book lovers unite and enjoy the Texas Book Festival, where they connect authors and readers through experiences that celebrate the culture of literacy, ideas, and imagination. The annual festival weekend features a variety of author presentations and panels, book signings, cooking demonstrations, programs, and activities for kids of all ages, food trucks, and exhibiting vendors from across the state and country.