2005 ARSC Conference

Austin Events & Places of Interest

Founded in 1838, Austin is the state capital of Texas. Located in the Texas Hill Country and named after Alamo hero Stephen F. Austin, the city is home to the University of Texas and Dell Computer Corporation.

Austin bills itself as the 'Live Music Capital of the World,' and there are always things to do, see and hear. On any given night, live music can be heard at any of more than 100 venues throughout the city. Willie Nelson, Asleep at the Wheel, Shawn Colvin and the late Stevie Ray Vaughan have all called Austin home.

Populated by as many as 1.5 million Mexican Free-Tailed Bats, the Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony is in residence from mid-March to early November, and can be conveniently viewed from the lake-side terrace of the Radisson hotel, where our conference will be held. Hopefully, the bats will have arrived by the time we meet, so be sure to bring your cameras!

The Texas State Capitol is the dominant landmark in the downtown area. Constructed in the 1880s of Texas pink granite, the capitol towers 302 feet high - 14 feet higher than the nation's capitol in Washington, D.C. The building is open to the public, and there is no admission fee. Tours are conducted daily.

The University of Texas campus is located just north of the state capitol. With a student enrollment exceeding 50,000, UT is one of the largest public universities in the United States. It is home to the UT Fine Arts Library & Historical Music Recordings Collection, the Harry Ransom Center, the Lyndon B. Johnson Presidential Library and the Austin City Limits Studio.

Other sites of interest include the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, the Governor's Mansion, and the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center which will be in full bloom!

For more information on events, music and places of interest, visit the Austin Convention & Visitors' Bureau.