University of Texas Tower 1966 sniper attack

The Main Building tower at the University of Texas at Austin was the site of a mass shooting on August 1, 1966, when Charles Whitman fired from the observation deck, killing 16 people and wounding many others; the event is a significant part of Austin's modern history. The tower, completed in 1937, remains a central campus landmark and is associated with memorials and extensive historical documentation of the shooting. The incident prompted lasting changes in police response protocols and continues to be referenced in discussions of campus safety and local history.