Guadalupe Street
Guadalupe Street’s long history contributes to the unique legacy and spirit of Austin. The portion of Guadalupe Street referred to as the Drag goes right through the heart of the University of Texas, and like the rest of this street, it is sprinkled with unique shops, restaurants and businesses.
—————————————————————————————————
La larga historia de Guadalupe Street contribuye al legado y al espíritu únicos de Austin. La porción de la calle Guadalupe conoce como el Drag pasa justo por el centro de la Universidad de Texas, y como el resto de esta calle, se cubre con tiendas exclusivas, restaurantes y comercios.
Shops along Guadalupe Street today (Source: 787 Realty)
History
The corridor along Guadalupe Street is on the traditional lands of the Tonkowa and Comanche peoples.
In 1839, Republic of Texas President Mirabeau Lamar commissioned Edwin Waller to lead the development of Austin. Guadalupe Street was among the north-south, river-named streets included as part of Austin’s original street grid.
View of the UT campus from the corner of 21st and Guadalupe in the 1890s. Note the old main building on top of the hill. (Source: UT History Center)
“The Drag,” which is the section of Guadalupe Street that runs through the University of Texas campus, gets its name from streetcars that were dragged by mules in the late 19th century. Over time, the Drag evolved from a streetcar route in the heart of early Austin to a hub of activism during the Civil Rights Era.
“The Drag” in 1927 (Source: Austin History Center)
In
1961, University of Texas students advocating for desegregation began peaceful stand-in protests at the Texas and Varsity Theaters. The University of Texas had been desegregated for a few years prior, but businesses surrounding the university had not yet followed in the school’s footsteps. The peaceful protests, supported by UT faculty and staff, led to the desegregation of the local theaters as well as other nearby businesses.
UT students “stand-in” to protest segregation at the Varsity in 1961 (Source: The University of Texas History Corner)
Life on the Corridor
We need your help to complete this segment of the website! Tell us about your life on the corridor and share your stories. Once we’ve collected interviews, stories, and photos, this page will be populated by people actually living along the Guadalupe Corridor.