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Preservation News and Events
Lunch and Learn “The Round Rock Preservation Story”
This presentation will take attendees through the historic development of Round Rock, and will include information about Round Rock’s Preservation Program, Round Rock’s Historic Landmarks, and Round Rock’s Preservation Plan for the next 10 years. The presentation will be Tuesday, January 21 from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. at the Baca Center. Attendees are invited to bring their own brown bag lunch and Round Rock Preservation will provide a water and a cookie for your enjoyment. Sponsors for the program are the City of Round Rock, Round Rock Preservation, and The Williamson Museum. For information call: 512-373-3819.
Round Rock Preservation – General Meeting
Nonprofit Round Rock Preservation will hold its annual General Meeting on Saturday, February 29 from 1:30-2:30 p.m. in Library Meeting Room B. All are welcome! Round Rock Preservation will present an overview of RR Preservation’s status, accomplishments and plans. The 2019 annual meeting will recognize their “Preservation Business of the Year, a Preservation Member of the Year, and a Preservation Nonprofit Organization of the Year. For more information contact roundrockpreservation50@yahoo.com
Historic Preservation Plan adopted
At its November 19, 2019 meeting the Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) voted to recommend the new Historic Preservation Plan for inclusion in the City’s comprehensive plan Round Rock 2030, with anticipated adoption in 2020. For questions, please contact the Round Rock 2030 team at (512)-218-5428 or roundrock2030@roundrocktexas.gov
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
The Williamson Museum on the Chisholm Trail will be closed Sunday, December 22 through the end of January for the holidays and annual planning.
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) 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