German Free School

The German Free School, located at 507 East 10th Street in downtown Austin, Texas, is a historic building established in 1858 by German immigrants. It was the first school in Austin chartered by the Texas Legislature and operated as a secular institution until the public school system was founded in 1881. The building has undergone expansions and renovations, including recovery from a fire in 1919. Designated as a City of Austin Historic Landmark in 1956 and a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in 1962, it now serves as the headquarters for the German-Texan Heritage Society, promoting German culture through various initiatives.