Oakwood Cemetery Annex
Why it's listed
Oakwood Cemetery Annex is an 18.8-acre burial ground in east Austin, bought by the City of Austin in 1915 to provide more grave space when Oakwood Cemetery began running out of lots. Still active, it holds more than 13,000 interments, including a large Hispanic section, an infant section and many prominent local citizens. Its radial hub and curving roadways follow the 'rural cemetery' and City Beautiful ideas of the nineteenth century. Three contributing buildings and structures stand on site: a small brick gatehouse with bungalow influence, the circa 1922 Rather mausoleum in the form of a rusticated Roman temple, and the circa 1941 Moderne-style Wooten mausoleum. Family monuments, carved markers and hand-made folk art such as tiled ledgers, concrete markers and a cast cowboy boot reflect changing tastes and economic circumstances. It was recognized for local significance in art, architecture and landscape architecture between 1915 and 1953.
Significance in brief: The nomination argues the Annex is significant locally under Criterion C for art, architecture and landscape architecture. Its curvilinear, radial layout reflects the 'rural cemetery' and City Beautiful movements. It also holds notable monuments, Hispanic folk art markers, and the graves of a significant group of Austin citizens.
Machine-generated summary. This summary was generated by a language model from the official nomination document and has not been reviewed line by line by an editor. It may contain errors. Check the source document before relying on any detail. Source: nomination document (PDF) · National Archives catalog entry. NRHP reference 03001103, listed October 30, 2003. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence medium).
Key facts
| Address | 1601 Comal St., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | October 30, 2003 |
| Reference number | 03001103 |
| Resource type | District |
| Period of significance | 1915-1953 |
| Architect / builder | unknown, Stasswender |
| Architectural style | NO STYLE (gatehouse with bungalow influence; Classical Revival Rather mausoleum; Moderne Wooten mausoleum) |
| Criteria |
|
| Areas of significance | Art, Architecture, Landscape Architecture |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Still an active cemetery with more than 13,000 interments; the gatehouse is closed, with a roof needing replacement, and the two mausoleums are in excellent condition. |
| Acreage | 18.8 |
| Coordinates | 30.27713, -97.72381 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
This is a historic district. Buildings within its boundary are either contributing (they add to the district's significance) or non-contributing. Owners of contributing income-producing buildings can claim the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit; homeowners should look at state credits. National Register districts impose no design review by themselves; a local historic district ordinance, if one exists, does (the difference explained).
General information, not legal or tax advice. Rules change; confirm with your State Historic Preservation Office or a qualified adviser.
Sources and further reading
- National Park Service, National Register of Historic Places database (snapshot May 2026), reference 03001103.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikidata Q109999762
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.