Austin Museum of Art (AMOA)-Laguna Gloria is a monument to our long-standing commitment to the community, offering a unique experience of history, art, and nature. Visitors can tour the recently restored 1916 Italian-style villa that was AMOA's orginal home, and before that, the home of Texas legend Clara Driscoll, best known as savior of the Alamo. Inside they can view intimate art exhibitions and attend informative educational discussions focusing on art and nature. Outside they can stroll the lush 12-acre grounds overlooking Lake Austin, and enjoy the revitalized historic gardens and many sculptures.
This beloved site consists of some of the most beautiful parkland in Central Texas and has been declared a national treasure on city, state, and national registries of historic places. It is also home to The Art School, a thriving hub of activity with more than 400 classes taught annually where adults and children are encouraged to express themselves. AMOA-Laguna Gloria provides a tranquil setting for private parties and community gatherings year-round.
History:
Before the influx of white settlers, Native Americans visited the site for its nearby spring (today underwater). The land that includes the property was originally owned by Stephen F. Austin, who in 1832 (seven years before Austin was founded) wrote that he wished to build a home there. This never came to pass.
In 1914 the property was purchased by Hal Sevier, editor of the Austin American, with his new wife Clara Driscoll. They completed their villa two years later, inspired by a honeymoon visit to Lake Como, Italy. Clara, an avid gardener, spent many years planting native and foreign plants around the site and designing the terraced gardens that remain to this day.
In 1943 Driscoll donated the homesite to be used as a city museum. In 1961, the site was converted to the Laguna Gloria Art Museum and became an important part of the Austin arts scene. Soon after, the museum began offering art classes, and in 1983, a 5,300-square-foot facility was built specifically for the growing art school.
In 1992, the institution changed its name to the Austin Museum of Art and four years later, moved its primary exhibition space to 823 Congress Avenue in the heart of downtown Austin. Laguna Gloria remained the site of The Art School, and in 2003, the Driscoll Villa was renovated and again became an exhibition space, focusing on local and regional artists.
For more information on exhibits, hours and directions, visit austin.com.
