Have you ever spotted this house while walking on the University of Texas-Austin campus? It is well hidden and does not have a sign announcing what it is, like the rest of the buildings on campus. But the Watson Chateau is worth noticing and saving for future generations.
Normally, having 170 years of Texas, Austin, and architectural history embedded in a structure would deem it important enough to be significant to the community. But the Watson Chateau, built in 1853, is know well-known even though it has the rare ability to also bring to light the under-told history of Austin’s LGBTQ community, African Americans, and women. Additionally, tendrils from the home’s owners fan out to hundreds of significant local and Texas histories and people.