Vintage Austin: Construction of the UT Tower

Construction of the tower at the University of Texas began in 1934 and was completed in 1937.  The tower of the Main Building at the University is a well-known landmark.  The main building was originally the central library while the 27-story tower housed the book stacks.  If you wanted to make a selection, you’d first search the mammoth card catalog, then relay your choice to the front desk, and finally wait.  Waiting on the roller skate clad Tower Librarians, at their busiest, could take more than an hour and a half.  This led to the need for an open-stack library.  Tower tours are provided on Saturdays and Sundays throughout the year but check the University website as they do take an occasional hiatus.

Photo Credit: Austin History Center, PICA36432