History of Texas Land

by Texas. General Land Office

HISTORY
OF
TEXAS LAND

With a preface by
BILL ALLCORN
Commissioner of the General Land Office

AUSTIN, TEXAS
1958

The Old GENERAL LAND OFFICE BUILDING—BUILT IN THE YEARS 1856-1857 IN AUSTIN, TEXAS

The Old General Land Office Building, pictured (above) as it appeared about 1890, is located at the southeast corner of the Capitol grounds in Austin. It is one of the oldest remaining buildings in the Capitol City.

It was designed in December, 1854, by a draftsman in the General Land Office, Professor Doctor C. C. Stremme, who enjoyed considerable prestige in Europe before his emigration to Texas. In addition to other honors, Professor Stremme held a title at the Court of Emperor Nicholas I of Russia.

Maps prepared by Professor Stremme suggest his German homeland, and he poured his rich background into the Old Land Office Building. This structure is German Romance in style.

It was built in 1856 and 1857.