Preservation Austin exists to empower Austinites to shape a more inclusive, resilient, and meaningful community culture through preservation.

Membership makes our work possible. Learn about Annual, Monthly, and Business Memberships here.

Preservation Austin offices in the historic McFarland-McBee House at 3805 Red River Street. We are currently open by appointment only.

Have a question? Email one of our staff members.

Submit your business for our 2025 Legacy Business Month Passport!

Legacy Business Month is held every year in October. Our goal is to engage Austinites in patronizing beloved businesses, learning their histories, and advocating for policies to support their longevity.

Each year, our Legacy Business Month Passport encourages Austinites to patronize 10 local businesses, get their passports stamped, and support legacy businesses citywide.

Learn more and submit your business for consideration in our 2025 passport below.

Our Work

"Rather than look to the past and lament what has been lost, we're looking to the present, at the incredible places we still have, and are working to protect them for the future."

— Lindsey Derrington, Executive Director

Latest News from Preservation Austin

Featured
Call for Nominations: 2025 Preservation Merit Awards
Call for Nominations: 2025 Preservation Merit Awards

Preservation Austin’s 65th Annual Preservation Merit Awards honor visionary approaches to preserving our city’s unique architectural, cultural, and environmental heritage. By recognizing outstanding individuals, businesses, organizations, and institutions, we hope to inspire others to carry on this important work.

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Texas’s Oldest Housing Co-Op Fights for 75 More Years
Texas’s Oldest Housing Co-Op Fights for 75 More Years

In Austin’s West Campus area — characterized today by towering apartment buildings, huge window panes, bright signs, and a boisterous population of 15,000 students — a medium-sized house known as Whitehall Cooperative sits as a haven of affordable housing for its residents.

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Protect Historic Preservation in Texas  – Oppose SB 2639! 
Protect Historic Preservation in Texas  – Oppose SB 2639! 

SB 2639 threatens the future of historic preservation in Texas by rewriting the rules for how cities protect significant historic sites. The bill will be heard in the House Committee on Land and Resource Management on Thursday, May 22 at 8 AM. Please reach out to the members of the Committee members and urge them to vote NO on SB 2639. Read on for more. 

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We were thrilled to recently meet with Madgie, a longtime resident of the McFarland-McBee House. Her more than 10 years at the house were marked by legendary parties among the music community in Austin and beyond. Shown here is one of those gathering
We're hiring! ✨ Preservation Austin is looking for a part-time Operations Manager to support our full-time staff of five at the McFarland-McBee House! Applications are due July 7 - learn more and apply at preservationaustin.org/about/careers #linki
Preservation Austin is excited to announce the call for nominations for our 65th Annual Preservation Merit Awards! 🏆 This program honors the hard work and visionary approaches of those preserving our city’s incredible heritage, including the

Thank You to Our Supporters

McBee Family Foundation
Preservation Austin Supporter: David Wilson Garden Desgin
Preservation Austin Supporter: Still Water Foundation

Amber and Al Koehler | Anonymous | Emily Little | Erika Bonfanti and Jeff Acton

Jim Susman and Ellen Dorsey | Joanie Schoener Bentzin | John Constantine

Kelley Cooper McClure | The Lola Wright Foundation | Meta Butler Hunt

Nancy Scanlan | Roland Galang | Shepherd 5 Points Family Foundation

Sheridan and Perry Lorenz | The Susan Vaughan Foundation

Stacey and Aaron Franklin | Texas Preservation Trust Fund | Tyson Tuttle