Old Bakery & Emporium

Old Bakery & Emporium Historic building in downtown Austin featuring a history museum, fine art gallery, and artisan shop. No longer a bakery, it is now serves several purposes.

The Old Bakery & Emporium (OBE) is a historic site that started as a bakery for the first 60 years of its existence. It is an emporium (shop) that features handmade crafts and art by local artisans and artists ages 50+. The 3rd floor Fine Art Gallery displays rotating art exhibits of local artists. It houses the Lundberg-Maerki Historical Collection, which depicts Austin’s transformation from a ru

stic frontier town to a modern, bustling state capital. Lastly, the OBE serves as a Visitor Information Center for tourists wanting to know what to see and where to eat. The Old Bakery is a registered national landmark.

1876
Swedish immigrant Charles Lundberg built the bakery. It had the largest oven in Austin.

1876-1936
The building was used as a bakery by various local bakers. The giant oven and the wooden baker's spade on the 2nd floor remain as reminders of the building's history.

1936-1963
The Old Bakery was vacant, deteriorating and scheduled for demolition.

1963
The Austin Heritage Society purchased and rescued the structure with the help of the Junior League.

1964
The Heritage Society began operating a Tourist Information Center and Coffee Kitchen in the building.

1970
When the mortgage was paid off, the Old Bakery was sold to the State of Texas.

1974-1976
The City of Austin Office of Bicentennial Affairs and the Texas Bicentennial Information Center rented the building.

1976
The building was renamed "Old Bakery and Emporium" a co-sponsored project of the Senior Programs Section of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the First Lady's Volunteer Program of the Texas Center for Volunteer Action.

1980
The State of Texas deeded the building and property to the City of Austin.

Our beloved flower-crown-making station will return at this year's 5th Annual Midsummer Festival on Saturday, June 6th!M...
05/22/2026

Our beloved flower-crown-making station will return at this year's 5th Annual Midsummer Festival on Saturday, June 6th!

Midsummer (Midsommar) is one of Sweden’s most beloved traditional celebrations, with origins reaching back to the 6th century. Marking the summer solstice and the longest day of the year, it symbolizes hopes for fertility and a successful harvest.

Learn more and RSVP for FREE >> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5th-annual-midsummer-festival-tickets-1988015788740?aff=oddtdtcreator

Come see a full timeline of the Old Bakery & Emporium's history in our current exhibition, Celebrating 150 Years of the ...
05/21/2026

Come see a full timeline of the Old Bakery & Emporium's history in our current exhibition, Celebrating 150 Years of the Old Bakery!

The exhibition is on display in our Fine Art Gallery through June 6th, 2026.

Gallery hours & location >> https://www.austintexas.gov/OBE

Celebrate the summer solstice with us on June 6th at our 5th Annual Midsummer Festival!This event is FREE family fun! Le...
05/05/2026

Celebrate the summer solstice with us on June 6th at our 5th Annual Midsummer Festival!

This event is FREE family fun! Learn more and RSVP >> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5th-annual-midsummer-festival-tickets-1988015788740?aff=oddtdtcreator

The Old Bakery & Emporium was built in 1876 by Swedish immigrant Charles Lundberg. Midsummer, or Midsommar, is a traditional Swedish holiday celebrating the Summer Solstice, the longest day of the year. The Old Bakery hosts the Midsummer Festival as a tribute to the building’s Swedish American heritage.

These are the two remaining photos of the Old Bakery celebrating the nation's 200th birthday in 1976. Stop by our Fine A...
05/01/2026

These are the two remaining photos of the Old Bakery celebrating the nation's 200th birthday in 1976.

Stop by our Fine Art Gallery this weekend and see more slices of Austin history in our current exhibition, Celebrating 150 Years of the Old Bakery! On display through June 6th, 2026.

Gallery hours & location >> https://www.austintexas.gov/old-bakery

Photos courtesy of Austin History Center, Austin Public Library

Our sister site, the Dougherty Arts Center, has its Art-O-Rama coming up on May 9th! Learn more and RSVP >> https://ArtO...
04/23/2026

Our sister site, the Dougherty Arts Center, has its Art-O-Rama coming up on May 9th! Learn more and RSVP >> https://ArtORama2026.eventbrite.com

The Dougherty Arts Center’s Art-O-Rama is back, paying homage to the vibrant and inclusive world of street art.

From colorful murals, sculpture and graffiti, to busking musicians, magicians and street poets, art is everywhere in Austin, so let’s celebrate it!

Contribute to a large-scale community mural, and watch a live graffiti demo by artists. Explore a pop-up exhibit and art installation, and make your own screen-printed tote, mini mosaic and custom stickers. Be entertained by roaming street magicians and typewriter poets and musicians. Top it all off with donuts and lemonade!

Performances and Activities Include:

- Public Art Walking Tour with Art In Public Places
- Performances by Austin Samba
- Wandering magician Peter the Adequate
- Typewriter poems by Camari Hawkins
- Live graffiti demo by Hope Outdoor Gallery artist Aaron Darling
- Pop-up exhibit and art installation activity with Art From the Streets
- Community Mural
- Mini mosaics
- Screen-printed totes
- Stencil and sticker making
- Donuts and lemonade for purchase on site from food truck DonutNV

Art-O-Rama is free and open to all ages.

RSVP for Art-O-Rama on Eventbrite: https://ArtORama2026.eventbrite.com

04/22/2026

Address

1006 Congress Avenue
Austin, TX
78701

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+15129741300

Website

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