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Preservation News and Events
Comprehensive Plan (including Preservation Plan) adopted
The City Council adopted the new comprehensive plan Round Rock 2030 at its June 25, 2020 meeting. Round Rock 2030 includes a Historic Preservation Plan as one of its chapters. which will guide historic preservation policy for the next decade.
Preservation events
- The Williamson Museum will host its Summer History Explorers Camp for 3rd-6th graders. The two one-week sessions are July 20-24 and 27-31.
- The Texas Historical Commission’s Texas History at Home project has posted a set of educational materials about the Chisholm Trail, one of the great Texas cattle trails which passed through Round Rock.
Historic Preservation Program Overview
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).
Historic Preservation in Round Rock
St. Charles Hotel (built ca. 1870)
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) 2020 meeting schedule
Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) Goals for 2019-2020
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