Neill-Cochran House Museum
Here’s something really cool to do in Austin, Texas! The Neill-Cochran House Museum. This awesome house was built and designed in 1855 by Abner Cook, a master builder who is also responsible for the Texas Governor’s Mansion. When the house was built it was located two miles from the young city of Austin, at that time the population was around 1000.
The two story house is beautifully furnished from the Colonial, Empire, Rococo Revival and Victorian periods. And its setting is shaded with a private patio.
“A complete tour of the Neill-Cochran House Museum includes the front porch, front hall, and four rooms downstairs (three parlors and the dining room); a winding staircase, upstairs hall, and four rooms upstairs (three bedrooms and the library); the back hall; and a detached, two-story structure known as the Rock House Dependency, containing artifacts, furnishings, and 19th-century kitchen tools.”
The Greek Revival house is considered one of Austin’s most important historical buildings. In 1845 Austin became the state capitol. Washington Hill, a young surveyor had the home built for himself and his wife Mary. Hill commissioned Cook to build the comfortable home on 17.5 acres of land. At the time Cook had already established himself as the most important master builder in Texas.
The Hills never occupied their new home. Over extended financially, Hill leased the property to the State of Texas for the temporary site of the Texas Asylum for the Blind. After that the home was leased to the Lt. Governor. Then for two years after the Civil War the house was used as a hospital. The house was then owned and occupied by prominent Austin families and in 1895 was purchased by the Cochran family. In 1958 it was bought by the National Society of Colonial Dames of America in The State of Texas.
Neill-Cochran House Museum
2310 San Gabriel Street
Austin, Texas 78705
(512) 478-2335
$5 per person. Free to children 15 years old and younger
The NCHM is open to the public from 2:00 to 5:00pm, Tuesday through Saturday. For a guided tour, please contact the museum to make a reservation. Individual tours are available during museum hours, and groups of 40 or more are welcome by appointment.
All visitors are guided through the house by NCHM staff or a trained docent. Please allow 45 minutes for a satisfying tour of the House, Dependency and grounds. A more leisurely tour that considers numerous furnishings takes one hour.
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