Austin | Historic Images & Postcards - Page 36

KevinFromTexas · #**701** Posted **Aug 31, 2016, 8:31 PM**

Neat old skyline pic from sometime after 1987.

Paul H. Light - https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?f...type=3&theater

the Genral · #**702** Posted **Aug 31, 2016, 11:50 PM**

This was after the 80s building boom. Six of the buildings in that picture were built around the same time. Sure, the new buildings were ridiculously restrained by that short sighted city council at the time resulting in shortish, stubby buildings with architecturally challenging set backs. But, it was also the first time that downtown was filled with a bunch of construction cranes at the same time, and the first time someone suggested that the crane should be Austin's official bird. Even though some of that 80s crop of highrises were less than stellar, that was a pretty exciting time to witness what turned out to be just the beginning of the new Austin. Glad I got to see it while it happened. At least one of the buildings (One American Center) along with 6th Street, was impressive enough to hit the big screen and pass for a section of Chicago. In case you missed it, and many did, it was a movie starring John Travolta in 'Michael'.

KevinFromTexas · #**703** Posted **Sep 1, 2016, 12:12 AM**

Yep. We rented that movie and I remember telling my family "That's Austin on the left and Chicago on the right." My mom thought I was wrong, but my dad recognized the Ritz on 6th.

llamaorama · #**704** Posted **Sep 1, 2016, 1:20 AM**

Neat. Late 1987, my mom would have been pregnant with me at that exact time...

Why does it seem many of the buildings had red aircraft beacons at the time? Have FAA rules changed since then?

the Genral · #**705** Posted **Sep 1, 2016, 2:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by llamaorama

Neat. Late 1987, my mom would have been pregnant with me at that exact time...

Why does it seem many of the buildings had red aircraft beacons at the time? Have FAA rules changed since then?

There's still red beacons on most of the buildings. The height requirements regulated by the FAA may have changed because the airport is further away now. It may be some of the shorter buildngs that used to have beacons no longer do because they no longer have to.

The ATX · #**706** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 4:41 AM**

Before MOPAC. Guess the year. I'll credit the photo when someone guesses the year, otherwise this is pointless.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKqC5kZDGDi/

the Genral · #**707** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 6:14 AM**

1963, The event center is there, Kennedy was supposed to be there in November, nothing dt, looks like warehouses for Camp Mabry, summer 1963.

Homecreek · #**708** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 6:27 AM**

I'm going to say 1963

The ATX · #**709** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 6:58 AM**

Your guesses of 1963 have been noted. Please try again.

the Genral · #**710** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 7:23 AM**

I'm going for another historic date that coinsides with the structures I can make out in the fuzzy picture, btw, thanks for that...
1966, the year of the UT tower shootings. Final answer.

KevinFromTexas · #**711** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 7:24 AM**

I was going to say earlier. I doubt it's later than 1963 since there should have been more high rises. The Radisson "Crest Inn", Pickle Building and Cambridge Tower were built in 1965, and they're missing. Both the Westgate Tower and Holiday Inn Tower were built in 1967. There are two high rises here in the Capitol Complex. I think one of them is the Tom C. Clark Building (1959) and the other is the Sam Houston Building (1961). The Palmer Event Center is there and was built in 1959. I don't see the Penthouse Condominiums, and they were built in 1964. My guess is somewhere from 1960 to 1962. 1961?

hookem · #**712** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 7:25 AM**

Good job fooling the google image search.

I'm going to guess 1964. It probably looked the same in 63 (credit to the Genral who can date it as early as that), but it's not like the aerial view would have changed that much until '68 or '69. I *think* Mopac in that area was constructed around 1968. And you'd probably see at least the Castillian under construction in 1968. So it could be anytime 1967 or before, unless someone else knows a way of dating how late it could be.

*EDIT* Ok, Kevin can date it earlier (didn't see the post when I was replying), so I still say 64 or 65.

crewer · #**713** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 11:28 AM**

It was taken in May 1964.

The ATX · #**714** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 12:57 PM**

It was '64 according to the link.

the Genral · #**715** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 4:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

It was '64 according to the link.

1964, final answer, may I have a cookie?

jg6544 · #**716** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 5:20 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by The ATX

Before MOPAC. Guess the year. I'll credit the photo when someone guesses the year, otherwise this is pointless.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKqC5kZDGDi/

Before Westminister Manor was built on Jackson Rd. and no high-rises around The University, so I'm going to put it in '64 or '65.

MichaelB · #**717** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 8:29 PM**

interesting.... actually while Cambridge offically opened in May of '65, It was built in '64 and it's not there..... hum.

KevinFromTexas · #**718** Posted **Sep 26, 2016, 8:31 PM**

I didn't have a date for that one lowrise along Mopac. I had it listed with a height, but I couldn't ever find the date. I looked it up on the county's tax website. I even looked at an old satellite image of that area. It was there in 1964. The nearest earlier date was 1954, and it wasn't there then.

jg6544 · #**719** Posted **Sep 27, 2016, 5:50 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinFromTexas

I didn't have a date for that one lowrise along Mopac. I had it listed with a height, but I couldn't ever find the date. I looked it up on the county's tax website. I even looked at an old satellite image of that area. It was there in 1964. The nearest earlier date was 1954, and it wasn't there then.

Today, it's the DMV office and by the looks of it, it dates from the late 50s, possibly early 60s.

LoneStarMike · #**720** Posted **Sep 30, 2016, 7:52 PM**

Does anyone remember where the downtown post office was in the mid 1980's before the one over by Republic Square opened?

Wasn't it here - across from the Pickle Federal Building? I was working at 8th & Brazos at the time and have vague memories of cars lined up under that canopy every April 15th dropping off their income tax returns.