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by Johnny Stucco
Officially recognized as state archeological landmarks in 1970
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976 |
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Moonlight
Tower -
Looking up from ground level.
Photo by John Troesser, 10-04 |
Hiding
in plain sight around the downtown area and a few neighborhoods, these
165-foot industrial artifacts could (collectively) be considered an
outdoor museum.
They are (collectively) listed on the National Register of Historic
Places.
Today, in the entire United States, only Austin
has surviving examples of this type of lighting system that was once
popular in many U.S. cities during the late 1800s. Seventeen (of the
original thirty-one) towers are scattered around "old" Austin - with
the greatest concentration being around the Capitol.
Surprisingly, only a few have been lost to automobile mishaps.
A complete list of locations can be found in T. Lindsay Baker's Building
the Lone Star. |
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The actual Lights atop the tower.
Photo
by John Troesser, 10-04 |
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Intricate
hardware - the wheel was part of a hand-operated elevator that brought
workmen to the top.
Photo by John Troesser, 10-04 |
The
towers are actually 150 feet tall with a fifteen-foot foundation.
They were shipped from the manufacturer in Indiana and assembled on
site. When first installed, the towers were connected to their own
electric generators at the Colorado River dam. The area lighted was
a 1,500 foot radius and it was meant to provide enough light to read
a watch by.
Over the years they were switched from their original carbon-arc lamps
to incandescent lamps in the 20s to mercury-vapor lamps in the 1930s.
When they were carbon-arc, the light was brighter, however, nightly
inspections were required. Mercury-vapor lighting allowed the installation
of a simple switch at the towers base. Wartime considerations required
a central switch in case a blackout was necessary. |
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One
of the recently attached plaques.
Photo by John Troesser, 10-04 |
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Austin's
Moonlight Tower - looking up
Photo by John Troesser, 10-04 |
The
Moonlight Towers were officially recognized as state archeological
landmarks in 1970 and six years later they were listed on the National
Register of Historic Places.
In 1993 the city of Austin dismantled the towers and restored them
down to every bolt,
turnbuckle and guy wire. Our visit in 2004 showed the restoration
to holding up well. The work appears as though it was completed last
week.
The only recent addition to the towers, besides the historical plaques,
has been the signage warning people not to climb them. |
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The
warning. Shortly after installation - there was a suicide.
Photo by John Troesser, 10-04 |
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Austin's
Moonlight Tower's hardware close up
Photo by John Troesser, 10-04 |
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Moonlight
Tower -
Looking up from ground level.
Photo by John Troesser, 10-04 |
| Texas
Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
us. |
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