Historic Preservation - City of Round Rock

Preservation News and Events

Tax exemption inspection appeals due August 30

If you participated in the 2019 historic tax exemption program, you were sent a copy of the 2019 inspection form in July. Any maintenance items noted on the 2019 inspection form must be addressed by April 30, 2020 in order to qualify for the exemption next year. If you would like to dispute any maintenance items noted in the 2019 form, please send a letter or email with explanation by August 30, 2019. If extensive repairs are needed that cannot be completed in a year, the HPC may consider a phased work plan.

2030 Preservation Plan

Thank you to all that participated in the Historic Preservation survey! The survey was posted from 5/1 to 5/31 during National Preservation Month in order to collect public input for the update to Round Rock’s historic preservation plan. The historic preservation plan will be incorporated into Round Rock 2030, the City’s comprehensive plan. Results from this survey will be presented to the Historic Preservation Commission on June 18^th at 6:00 p.m. The raw data from the survey is available now, and a full report will be available in the coming weeks.
Polco Historic Preservation Survey Responses (pdf)
Learn more about Round Rock 2030
Not sure what the historic preservation program currently includes? See the presentation below!

Historic Preservation Program Presentation

Click to open presentation video

Planning and Development Services Director Brad Wiseman presented an overview of Round Rock’s historic preservation program at the April 9, 2019 City Council packet briefing. For more information about the historic preservation program, watch the presentation video or check out the historic preservation program slides (pdf).

Events at the Williamson Museum on the Chisholm Trail

“Saloon and Poker Party” July 20, 6-8 p.m. $20
“Crafting with Cocktails: Back to School” August 2 $15-20
“Back to School Ice Cream Social” August 17, 6-8 p.m. $5
“Back to School Tea Party” August 25, 2-4 p.m. $25-30
“Textile History” September 7, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. free
“Crafting with Cocktails: Hispanic Heritage” September 21 6-8 p.m. $15-20

Historic Preservation in Round Rock

The St. Charles Hotel (built ca. 1870) is now Williamson Museum on the Chisholm Trail

The City of Round Rock was founded in the 1840s where the Chisholm Trail crosses Brushy Creek, at the area now known as “Old Town.” In 1876, many of the businesses and residents moved to the current downtown area (“New Town”) when the railroad extended its tracks there. Since then, the City has grown steadily.

As it grows, the City of Round Rock works with owners of older and historic properties to encourage maintenance and upkeep, as well as retention of the historic character of buildings, structures, sites, and districts. The Department of Planning and Development Services (PDS) manages the City’s historic preservation programs. These include:

Advising property owners who want to renovate historic buildings and approving their proposed changes
City-wide preservation planning
Maintaining an inventory of historic properties
Designating local landmarks and historic districts
Managing a property tax exemption program available to historic property owners
Educating the public about Round Rock’s history and the City’s preservation programs

Find the Information You Need

Historic properties in Round Rock
Historic Architecture in Round Rock
Designated Historic Landmarks
Downtown Historic District (National Register District)
Chisholm Trail Historic Area
Downtown Historic Building Information Placards
Historic Round Rock Guide and Walking Tour (map/brochure, pdf)

Local history
The Historic Round Rock Collection
Preservation Minutes (videos about Round Rock history and preservation)
Local Legends
Local History Resources
Sam Bass and the Great Round Rock Shootout of July 19, 1878 (brochure, pdf)

Preservation program information
Historic Preservation Commission (HPC)
Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) 2019 meeting schedule
Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Goals for 2018-2019
Certificate of Appropriateness application packet
Historic Designation & Historic Overlay Zoning
Historic property Tax Exemption
2010-2013 Survey and Inventory of Historic Resources

Designation of Historic Landmarks and Historic Districts (brochure, pdf)
Historic Design Guidelines for Residential Properties (pdf)
Historic Design Guidelines for Commercial Properties (pdf)
Partial Tax Exemption for Historically Significant Properties (brochure, pdf)
Protecting Historic Properties: A Citizen’s Guide to Section 106 Review (brochure, pdf)

Contact Us
Planning & Development Services Department
301 W. Bagdad Avenue, Suite 210 (map)
Round Rock, Texas 78664
Phone: (512) 218-5428
Fax: (512) 218-3286
Walk-in hours: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday – Friday