French Legation State Historic Site

The front of the main house at the French Legation State Historic Site The front of the visitor center at the French Legation State Historic Site French Legation grounds French Legation Cafe interior Fireplace cooking The front gate of the French Legation State Historic Site The front of the main house at the French Legation State Historic Site

802 San Marcos Street
Austin, TX 78702
Parking lot located at 900 East 9th Street
737-226-1779

frenchlegation@thc.texas.gov

Driving map of the French Legation building
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One of the oldest houses in Austin, the French Legation opened in 1841 as a home and diplomatic outpost for the French chargé d’affaires to the Republic of Texas, Alphonse Dubois, after France recognized the Republic of Texas as a sovereign nation. The site tells the story of Texas’ settlement and the growth of one of the capital city’s most vibrant neighborhoods. 

Hours

Grounds: 

  • Monday: 7:00 AM to 10:00 AM
  • Tuesday – Friday: 7:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Saturday: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
  • Sunday: Closed

Museum:

  • Tuesday – Saturday: 11 AM to 4:30 PM (Last Admission at 4:00pm)
  • Sunday – Monday: Closed   

Café & Gift Shop:

  • Monday: 7:00 AM – 10 AM, pre-order by 9:45 AM.
  • Tues - Friday: 7:00 AM – 1:00 PM, pre-order by 12:45 PM.
  • Saturday: 11:00 AM – 5:00 PM, pre-order by 4:45 PM.
  • Sunday: Closed

Closed Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Years Day, and Easter Sunday

Admission Fees

Adults (18 and over)
$7

Seniors (65 and over)
$6

Children (ages 6-18)
$4

Children (ages 5 and under)
Free 

Military Veterans
$6

Active Military (with ID)
Free 

College Students (with ID)
$4

Family Rate
$14

Tour Groups
(Reservation Required)

School Groups
(Reservation Required)

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Upcoming Events

July 16

Bastille Day 2022 at the French Legation

Come celebrate French culture and heritage at this year’s Bastille Day celebration at the French Legation State Historic Site!  The French Legation has been the historic home of Austin’s largest Bastille Day festivities for nearly twenty-five...

July 23

Austin Genealogical Society Panel

Join the Austin Geanological Society for a panel discussion about current topics in geneaology.  Learn how and where to explore family history records, and how to organize what you discover for future generations.  Hear upgates on current ...

July 30

Cold Cooking in the Kitchen: Historic Cold Dishes for Summer Weather

When the temperature starts to spike, the last thing you want to do is stand over a hot stovetop and heat up the entire kitchen at dinnertime. This was especially true in the days when cooking was done over an open fire and with hot coals. In the...

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From the Blog

Visit Eight State Historic Sites to Experience the Republic of Texas Era

Step back in time and experience the period of the Texas Republic in person or virtually at one of these Texas Historical Commission state historic sites.

San Felipe de Austin  

Commemorating the location where, in 1823, Stephen F. Austin established a headquarters for his colony in Mexican Texas, San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site and its museum share the stories of early...

French Legation

French Legation Construction Update

By Andy Rhodes, Managing Editor, The Medallion

In 2017, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law officially transferring the French Legation in East Austin to the Texas Historical Commission. Since then, the agency has been meticulously preparing and executing plans to reopen the site to the public. 

The THC’s Historic Sites Division has been overseeing a wide range of activity, from...

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