Downtown Austin and the State Capitol as seen from the Congress Avenue Bridge over Town Lake.

Congress Avenue is a major thoroughfare in Austin, Texas USA. The street is a six-lane, tree lined avenue that cuts through the middle of the city from far south Austin and goes over Town Lake leading to the Texas State Capitol in the heart of downtown. ImageMetadata File history File links Austin_downtown. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Austin_downtown. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Live Music Capital of the World Location Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Government County Travis County Mayor Will Wynn Geographical characteristics Area 669. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Town Lake is a reservoir on the Colorado River in downtown Austin, Texas, in the United States. ... The Texas State Capitol, located in Austin, Texas, is the fourth building to serve as the seat of Texas government. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Central business district. ...

The Congress Avenue Bridge over Town Lake houses the world's largest urban bat population. When the bridge was refurbished in the 1980s, the new design created crevices underneath the structure that were ideal for bats to roost in. In the summer, the colony has up to 1.5 million Mexican Free-tailed Bats.^[1] The bats migrate to Mexico for the winter. The Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) is a medium sized bat. ...

While filming Man of the House (2005 comedy film) in Austin, Texas, Tommy Lee Jones, who suffers from chiroptophobia refused to go near the Congress Avenue bridge after finding out about the Mexican Free-tailed Bat colony.^{[citation needed]} Man of the House is a 2005 comedy film starring Tommy Lee Jones about a Texas Ranger who has to protect a group of cheerleaders who previously witnessed a murder. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Live Music Capital of the World Location Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Government County Travis County Mayor Will Wynn Geographical characteristics Area 669. ... Tommy Lee Jones at the Cannes Film Festival Tommy Lee Jones (born September 15, 1946) is an Oscar-winning American actor and director. ... the fear of bats ... The Mexican Free-tailed Bat (Tadarida brasiliensis) is a medium sized bat. ...

History

Edwin Waller, the first mayor of Austin, designed Congress Avenue to be Austin's most prominent street. Early structures along Congress Avenue included government buildings, hotels, saloons, retail stores and restaurants. By the late 1840s "The Avenue" formed a well-established business district. The mid-1870s introduced gaslight illumination and mule-driven streetcars as well as construction of a new Travis County courthouse at Eleventh Street. The present Texas Capitol at the north end of Congress Avenue was built in 1883-1988. The original dirt street was bricked in 1910. Trolley cars operated on the Avenue until 1940. Judge Edwin Waller (November 4, 1800-January 3, 1881) was an entrepreneur, signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, the first mayor of Austin, Texas and the designer of its downtown grid plan. ... Gas lighting is the process of burning piped natural gas or coal gas for illumination. ... A CLRV Streetcar in the City of Toronto. ... The Travis County Courthouse Travis County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... This article refers to the mass transit vehicle. ...

The area of South Congress south of Town Lake used to be very seedy where the local motels rented by the hour rather than the day. These were raided by the police many times finding state legislators and their indiscretions. And only recently in the 90's, this area has been transformed to a much more hip and safe environment. The past is still reflected in many of the shops and bars along its sidewalk but they are now sought after for their creative and nostalgic flare. This area is often referred to as SoCo^[2] and is right next to the ever popular Travis Heights neighborhood. Travis Heights is a neighborhood in Austin, Texas, bounded by the Colorado River on the north, Interstate 35 on the east, Congress Avenue on the west, and Oltorf Street on the south. ...

Recognition

In recognition of its architectural and historical significance, Congress Avenue from First Street to the Capitol was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. The National Register of Historic Places is the USAs official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects worthy of preservation. ...

References

1. ^ Bat Conservation International page on the Congress Avenue Bridge Bat Colony.
2. ^ South Congress Austin Nirghborhood.