Old Bakery
Also known as: Lundberg Bakery
Why it's listed
Built in 1876 at the head of Congress Avenue near the Capitol, this small two-story building housed the bakery of Swedish immigrant Charles Lundberg. Its tan brick front has gray-white limestone voussoirs, keystones and bands, segmental arches below and round-arched openings above, topped by a brick gable crowned with a stone eagle carved by John Didelot. A local newspaper of 1876 praised it as a tasteful bakery and confectionery. Lundberg's business was called the largest in Austin until his death in 1895, after which later bakers, including Henry Maerki and George Siglhofer, ran it. For about sixty years it supplied bread and cakes to townspeople and Capitol visitors; the temporary Capitol stood next door from 1883 to 1899. Later used as a nightclub, it sat vacant until 1962, when the Heritage Society of Austin bought and restored it. It opened in 1965 as a tourist center and museum, and an old oven and pressed tin ceiling survive inside.
Significance in brief: The building was a notable 1876 bakery and confectionery, run for about sixty years by a succession of independent bakers who supplied Austin residents and Capitol visitors. It is architecturally distinctive for its brick and limestone front, Gothic-influenced trim and carved stone eagle, and it was restored in the 1960s as a preserved commercial landmark.
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 69000214, listed December 17, 1969. Summary generated October 2026 (model claude-sonnet-5-5, prompt v1.0-2026-10-29, confidence high).
Key facts
| Address | 1006 Congress Ave., Austin |
|---|---|
| County | Travis County |
| Listed | December 17, 1969 |
| Reference number | 69000214 |
| Resource type | Building |
| Period of significance | 1876 |
| Architect / builder | Charles Lundberg (builder/owner); stone eagle carved by John Didelot |
| Areas of significance | Commerce, Social History |
| Level of significance | Local |
| Status (as stated in the nomination) | Vacant and deteriorating until 1962, then restored and opened in 1965 as a tourist information center and museum. A 1975 letter says the State owns it and lends it to the Austin Bicentennial Commission as headquarters, with adjoining lots landscaped as a park. |
| Acreage | 0.1 |
| Within district | Congress Avenue Historic District |
| Coordinates | 30.27243, -97.74112 (NPS GIS) |
What listing means for this property
National Register listing is honorary: it recognises significance and does not restrict what a private owner may do without federal money or permits. It unlocks the 20% federal rehabilitation tax credit for income-producing buildings, state credits in many states, and Section 106 review when federal agencies are involved. See what listing means in practice.
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 69000214.
- Nomination form (PDF, National Archives) — catalog entry
- Wikipedia article (used for cross-checking only; text not reproduced here)
- Wikidata Q6704103
- This listing as JSON
Last updated October 2026. Found an error? See the editorial policy for how to report it.