El Paso Independent School District Trustees took the first step toward securing an official historical designation from the state of Texas for the beautiful Austin High School campus.
On Tuesday, the Board unanimously approved the purchase and installation of local historical marker from the El Paso County Historical Commission’s Markers Committee at the Austin campus.
The funds for the marker will be secured by the Austin High School Alumni Association.
The Alumni Association will use the local historical designation to apply for an official state designation from the Texas Historical Commission on EPISD’s behalf.
Built and designed by noted contractor and architect R.E. McKee, Austin High School opened in 1930 and is EPISD’s second oldest high school. The campus has classic Spanish architecture that features an iconic 103-foot belltower.
Austin is currently going through major renovations funded by the 2016 EPISD Bond that will modernize the campus, but still celebrate the historic aspect of the building.
Five Texas Historical Landmarks celebrate EPISD school sites: three at El Paso High School, one at the site of the former Douglass Grammar and High School and one at the site of the former Bowie High School, which is now Guillen Middle School.
