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The Byrne-Reed House
The north facade in 1927.
A year ago, few would have guessed that beneath the nondescript stucco facade at 1410 Rio Grande lay an elegant historic mansion, the Byrne-Reed House. Humanities Texas is nearing the end of its restoration of the house, with striking results.
Built circa 1907, the Byrne-Reed House reflects a Texas vernacular style that combines popular architectural trends of the period and housed two of Austin's most prominent families, the Byrnes and the Reeds. The conversion of the house to offices in the late 1950s brought about a series of alterations, the most dramatic of which occurred in the 1970s when the entire exterior was enclosed in a white stucco facade.
The northeast corner on October 5, 2009.
Recognizing the building as a hidden architectural treasure and a nearly-forgotten piece of Texas history, Humanities Texas purchased the building in December 2006. In 2009, Humanities Texas began an extensive restoration of the Byrne-Reed House. The stucco shell has been removed to reveal the handsome brick exterior adorned with nine elegant arches. The historic first-floor plan has been reestablished, creating a versatile space for public programming, including a gallery space and a 600-square-foot meeting room in which, for the first time, we can host on-site lectures, workshops, conferences, and exhibitions.
The east facade on June 20, 2010.
The restoration will be complete in August 2010, but our work is not done. Humanities Texas is in the final stages of our capital campaign supporting the restoration of the Byrne-Reed House. We are immensely grateful to the individuals and foundations that have contributed to this project and would appreciate any and all additional support. Your contributions will help us receive the full $1 million in matching funds from our National Endowment for the Humanities challenge grant. If you would like to donate to the capital campaign, you may donate either online or by phone.
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Or mail contributions to the following address:
Byrne-Reed Restoration
Humanities Texas
1410 Rio Grande Street
Austin, TX 78701
History
Learn more about the families who resided in the Byrne-Reed House.
Restoration Updates
Check back here often for photos of our latest discoveries.
Restoration Overview
Our renovation in progress integrates best practices of historic preservation and environmental sustainability.
Capital Campaign
You can play a pivotal role by participating in the capital campaign to restore the Byrne-Reed House
Education
The Byrne-Reed House is already serving an educational function as the subject of a historic preservation studio at The University of Texas at Austin.
Download a pdf of Humanities Texas's project description, "Bringing a Landmark to Light," or contact us for a printed version. (The digital file can take several minutes to download.)