Moonlight Tower Map Links

Austin's Moonlight Towers

Over 100 years and still burning bright

In 1894 Austin purchased 31 used lighting towers from the City of Detroit. At that time these types of light towers were common in US cities to illuminate urban areas in place of streetlights. A single tower cast a bright light from its six carbon arc lamps, illuminating a 3000 feet circle. Mercury vapor lamps are now in use in these 165 foot triangular cast-and wrought-iron structures.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Austin is the only US city that still retains and uses a portion of this once popular tower lighting system.

Seventeen of the original 31 towers, although moved from time to time to allow for city growth and street widening, are still in use.

In celebration of their 100th birthday in 1995, the city of Austin took down each tower for a complete restoration then replaced them at their original sites. Most of the towers can be found in residential areas near downtown although there are a few in the downtown area.

Tower Locations:

Nueces and W. 4th
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Nueces+St+%26+W+4th+St,+Austin,+TX+78701&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1


Guadalupe and W. 9th
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Guadalupe+St+%26+W+9th+St,+Austin,+TX+78701&ie=UTF8&z=15&ll=30.271818,-97.745233&spn=0.02335,0.051155&om=1&iwloc=addr

Blanco and W. 12th
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Blanco+St+%26+W+12th+St,+Austin,+TX+78703&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr


Rio Grande and W. 12th
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Rio+Grande+St+%26+W+12th+St,+Austin,+TX+78701&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

San Antonio and W. 15th
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=San+Antonio+St+%26+W+15th+St,+Austin,+TX+78701&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

Nueces and W. 22nd
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Nueces+St+%26+W+22nd+St,+Austin,+TX+78705&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

Speedway and W. 41st
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Speedway+%26+E+41st+St,+Austin,+TX+78751&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

Lydia and E. 7th
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Lydia+St+%26+E+7th+St,+Austin,+TX+78702&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

Trinity and E. 1st (Cesar Chavez)
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Trinity+St+%26+E+1st+St,+Austin,+TX+78701&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

Trinity and E. 11th
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Trinity+St+%26+E+11th+St,+Austin,+TX+78701&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

Coleto and E. 13th
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Coleto+St+%26+E+13th+St,+Austin,+TX+78702&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr



Chicon and E. 19th (MLK)
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=chicon+st+austin&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

Leona and Pennsylvania
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Leona+and+Pennsylvania+austin&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

Eastside Drive and Leland
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Eastside+Dr+%26+Leland+St,+Austin,+TX+78704&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

South 1st and W. Monroe
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=1st+St+S+%26+Monroe+St+W,+Austin,+TX+78704&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

Canterbury and W. Lynn
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Canterbury+street+and+lynn+st,+Austin,+TX+78704&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr

Zilker Park
http://www.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&q=Robert+E+Lee+Rd+%26+Barton+Springs+Rd,+Austin,+TX+78704&ie=UTF8&z=15&om=1&iwloc=addr