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ConferencesNANPA's Sixth Annual Summit Austin Texas, January 12-16, 2000. Unless you’re familiar with the area, this time and place may not fill your mind with visions of gorgeous nature photography opportunities. But Austin in January can be a magical, fascinating place, if you take the time to look. Austin was founded in 1839 by a group of five scouts looking for a new location for the capital city of the Republic of Texas. They found what they were looking for on the banks of the Colorado River, and named it after "the Father of Texas" Stephen F. Austin. (Legend has it that Austin signed the first boundary treaty with Tonkawa and Comanche Indians under the 500-year-old Treaty Oak on Baylor Street, sole survivor of a grove of live oaks. Almost killed in 1989 by a bizarre poisoning that resulted in the criminal prosecution of the perpetrator, the remaining one-quarter of the tree that lives is a testament to the concerted efforts of an international team of foresters.)
Austin has many outstanding vantage points from which to photograph the natural world or to take in the glimmering city skyline and prominent landmarks. There are breathtaking views of the city from an overlook near Wild Basin or the pinnacle of Mount Bonnell that rises above the winding Colorado River. Sheer scenic beauty is the crowning touch of Barton Creek, nestled within the lush Texas Hill Country just minutes west of Austin. If you’re into architecture or history, Austin’s pink granite capitol building provides some striking vistas from Congress Avenue. Lady Bird Johnson's internationally renowned, non-profit National Wildflower Research Center showcases the Texas Hill Country native plant species, and is home to North America's largest rooftop rainwater harvesting system. Definitely worth a tour while you’re in town. The University of Texas is home to the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center’s well-known photographic archives, boasting over five million prints and negatives going back to the Nineteenth Century, along with more than 3,000 pieces of photographic apparatus, and more than 35,000 books and journals on the theory, technique, art, and history of photography. The collection is open to the public Monday through Friday, 9 am to 4:30 pm, but reservations are encouraged.
Austin Quick Facts More Info:
Austin Texas Facts and Information Austin Convention and Visitors Bureau Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Harry Ransom Center Photographic Collection The University of Texas at Austin Barton Springs Park The Nature Conservancy of Texas, Inc. Texas Nature Tourism Association (TNTA) The Bats at Congress Ave. Bridge Photographing the Secret World of Bats (Merlin Tuttle) Austin State Capitol Building Austin Museum of Art (two locations) Austin Nature and Science Center Mt. Bonnell Park Town Lake Hike and Bike Trail Treaty Oak [Summit Index] Site Index Search Disclaimers Contact Us  North American Nature Photography Association 10200 West 44th Avenue, Suite 304 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-2840, USA Phone: 303-422-8527 Fax: 303-422-8894 E-mail: info@nanpa.org © 2001 All Rights Reserved |
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Local residents refer to Austin as "the center of the known universe" though it is usually known as the "Live Music
Capital of the World."
Barton Springs is a very popular park with great hiking opportunities, and the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve is an
environmentally sensitive home to endangered species. Austin is home to some world-class culture and nature sites,
including the Austin Museum of Art and the Austin Nature and Science Center. The local Zilker gardens is also known
for its spectacular wildflowers, and the Colorado River and Lake Travis play host to many species of animals, birds,
reptiles and insects, as well as wildflowers. The hill country surrounding the city can be breathtaking
Hispanic, African-American, Asian, German and French cultures are reflected in Austin’s many shops, restaurants and
cultural centers. Winemaking is experiencing a renaissance from its 19th century beginnings in the areas vineyards,
and microbreweries dot the cityscape. You’ll find far more than just a convention center in Austin. As you attend the
Summit this year, you’ll want to plan some extra time to explore the fascinating environs of this central Texas jewel.