About the Company
rating: 4.6
The O. Henry Museum is the former residence of William Sydney Porter, otherwise known as O. Henry, the short story writer who authored such classics as “The Gift of the Magi,” “The Ransom of Red Chief,” and “The Last Leaf.” The mission of the museum is to collect, preserve, and interpret artifacts and archival materials relative to Porter for literary, educational, and historical purposes. Through exhibits, programs, and tours, the museum focuses on Porter’s Austin years, during which he wrote his earliest stories. The museum is included in the National Register of Historic Places. The museum is free to the public and is open Weds.-Sun. 12pm-5pm.
Categories
- Museum
- Tourist attraction
Contact Information
Phone: +1 512-974-1398
Website: http://www.austintexas.gov/department/o-henry-museum
Address: 409 E 5th St., Austin, TX 78701, United States
- Monday: Closed
- Tuesday: Closed
- Wednesday: 12–5 PM
- Thursday: 12–5 PM
- Friday: 12–5 PM
- Saturday: 12–5 PM
- Sunday: 12–5 PM
Photos
Reviews
Review №1
Rating: 4
Beautiful old house with history. For free
Date: a month ago
Review №2
Rating: 5
This is a lovely museum to visit in downtown Austin. The tour guides are so knowledgeable and very eager to answer questions about the house, its history, and O. Henrys life. The home is well maintained, inviting, and cozy. You will really feel the history the second you step inside. Its a small house but has a lot of offer. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience.
Date: a month ago
Review №3
Rating: 5
A small piece of history In a huge city made of glass and concrete, the real home of the most revered writer in the United States of America O. Henry, be sure to visit here. Look at the conditions in which he lived and in what conditions he wrote his books How he worked for the benefit of society! Thank you for your hospitality.
Date: a month ago
Review №4
Rating: 5
Great little museum. Ohenry fans must see
Date: a month ago
Review №5
Rating: 5
great visit
Date: 2 months ago
Review №6
Rating: 5
Cute little historical site.
Date: 2 months ago
Review №7
Rating: 5
Wonderful history and the tour we were given was super. We learned a lot about O. Henry. Very much worth seeing!
Date: 2 months ago
Review №8
Rating: 5
Very interesting! Stop in if youre in the area!
Date: 3 months ago
Review №9
Rating: 5
Date: 3 months ago
Review №10
Rating: 5
Very interesting stop. They are very passionate about this topic, and their knowledge shows in their presentation. Are you history buff or nerd? Stop here and enjoy a bit more of history you may not have known.
Date: 5 months ago
Review №11
Rating: 5
We had a wonderful visit to the O. Henry Museum with an exemplary tour from Spike. She was knowledgeable and a great story teller. Highly recommend. Doesn t take long to visit and it s free admission
Date: 5 months ago
Review №12
Rating: 5
Above and beyond our expectations! The volunteer is nice and knowledgeable. This was extremely great investment of our time, we were really happy - thank you for keeping it so well in the busiest place of downtown!
Date: 6 months ago
Review №13
Rating: 5
Enjoyed the tour by Spike. She was very knowledgeable and brought the author and his family to life.
Date: 6 months ago
Review №14
Rating: 5
I went here as a kid with my sister when I was 12-13. And it was an amazing trip. Me and my sister had been reading O. Henry for at least 9 weeks on and off. To see this museum/home was an amazing. I strongly recommend to anyone that enjoys history and or literature. The caretaker/curator was amazing!
Date: 7 months ago
Review №15
Rating: 5
This is a little fun museum. It gave me a picture of people living here ~150 years ago. The museum is free. Across the train station. The tour only takes 15 minutes. Love the history.
Date: 8 months ago
Review №16
Rating: 5
Fun! Holiday activities!
Date: 9 months ago
Review №17
Rating: 5
Date: 10 months ago
Review №18
Rating: 5
Our docent Spike really brought to life the tales and times of O Henry. She engaged even my recalcitrant teens and answered all of our questions with panache
Date: 10 months ago
Review №19
Rating: 5
Great tour guide
Date: 10 months ago
Review №20
Rating: 5
We received a tour from a very nice lady who was obviously really enthusiastic about the topic.
Date: a year ago
Review №21
Rating: 5
Date: a year ago
Review №22
Rating: 5
Date: a year ago
Review №23
Rating: 5
It was a cool experience there was a lady there with 2 braided pigtails that was giving the tour she was and absolute joy to talk to
Date: a year ago
Review №24
Rating: 5
Date: a year ago
Review №25
Rating: 5
Date: a year ago
Review №26
Rating: 5
Date: a year ago
Review №27
Rating: 4
Date: a year ago
Review №28
Rating: 5
Date: 3 years ago
Review №29
Rating: 1
Date: 3 years ago
Review №30
Rating: 5
The perfect small house museum!
Date: 4 years ago
Review №31
Rating: 5
Cool little slice of history
Date: 4 years ago
Review №32
Rating: 5
Date: 4 years ago
Review №33
Rating: 5
It was a delightful surprise to find out this lovely museum. I enjoyed reading O. Henrys stories, but knew little of his life. This museum put his stories and his life together. The lady in the museum was knowledgeable and engaging, and made me feel connected to O. Henrys life over a hundred years ago!
Date: 4 years ago
Review №34
Rating: 5
Date: 4 years ago
Review №35
Rating: 5
Date: 4 years ago
Review №36
Rating: 5
A nice museum. Staff is friendly. They will tell you a bit about O. Henry and the history of the museum. The door is closed but they are actually open! Just knock on the door and enter.
Date: 4 years ago
Review №37
Rating: 5
Date: 4 years ago
Review №38
Rating: 3
Average place, maybe I over expected it as museum.
Date: 4 years ago
Review №39
Rating: 5
Date: 5 years ago
Review №40
Rating: 5
Cute,friendly, small museum. respectful and I learned a lot of new things, also I enjoyed a lot to be there since I read his story when I was in high school and it refreshed my memories.The lady who gave a half hour talk was amazing nice, super motivating and gave me a lot of information.
Date: 5 years ago
Review №41
Rating: 5
Date: 5 years ago
Review №42
Rating: 5
The museum was friendly, respectful and I learned a lot of new things. The lady who gave a half hour talk was nice and enthusiastic!
Date: 5 years ago
Review №43
Rating: 4
Fun to see where O Henrys family lived
Date: 5 years ago
Review №44
Rating: 5
Date: 5 years ago
Review №45
Rating: 3
Date: 5 years ago
Review №46
Rating: 5
Date: 5 years ago
Review №47
Rating: 5
Date: 5 years ago
Review №48
Rating: 5
Quick museum but freewill donation and convenient location. We enjoyed it.
Date: 5 years ago
Review №49
Rating: 5
Cute little museum. Worth the tumr. The staff us great.
Date: 5 years ago
Review №50
Rating: 5
Must see!
Date: 5 years ago
Review №51
Rating: 5
On the outside the O. Henry house in Austin doesnt look like much. But little does one know the house is a living monument to what many argue is the greatest short story writers of all time. I have always enjoyed his writings but neve realized he had ties to Austin. Combine all of this with the fact it is free, well I was ready to go. There is no gift shop , there are no bathrooms but for thirty minutes you can walk in and enjoy history. It is something one should visit just for experiencing written history and learning about our past. I also need to mention that the convention center parking garage was the most convenient and only 1 block away, if there is no street parking (about $1 per hour) available, the garage is only about $5 for 2 hours. My wife and I througly enjoyed this museum and we will definetly be back.
Date: 5 years ago
Review №52
Rating: 3
Date: 5 years ago
Review №53
Rating: 3
You feel a strange vibe in that place
Date: 5 years ago
Review №54
Rating: 5
Date: 5 years ago
Review №55
Rating: 5
Date: 6 years ago
Review №56
Rating: 5
Loved it!
Date: 6 years ago
Review №57
Rating: 5
Date: 6 years ago
Review №58
Rating: 5
Date: 6 years ago
Review №59
Rating: 4
Always a fun place to visit.
Date: 6 years ago
Review №60
Rating: 5
Date: 6 years ago
Review №61
Rating: 4
Quaint home tour with a great opportunity to speak to guides with interesting stories about the man & his works.
Date: 6 years ago
Review №62
Rating: 5
Date: 6 years ago
Review №63
Rating: 5
Neat place. Beautiful grounds. If you get the chance to attend the pun-off each May, you will enjoy
Date: 6 years ago
Review №64
Rating: 2
Date: 6 years ago
Review №65
Rating: 5
Date: 6 years ago
Review №66
Rating: 5
Really fun and nice.
Date: 6 years ago
Review №67
Rating: 5
Street parking is $1.20 per hour. I stayed for two. I was quite happy because not only is this Museum free, the Susan Dickinson museum is next door to this Museum. So, you get visit two amazing museums. The docents or workers are very polite. The quality of the homes are beautifully maintain. Both museums / homes have central air condition and heating systems that was a plus. My children truly enjoyed their visit. My husband who is not a museum visiting type of person was intrigued by all the information. There are displays of collected books of the short stories Porter had written, and his writing table to name a few goodies you will get too see.
Date: 6 years ago
Review №68
Rating: 4
Date: 6 years ago
Review №69
Rating: 3
I loved reading O Henry in school, so I was so pleasantly surprised to learn that he had resided in Austin when I moved here. I attended this year s 40th O Henry Pun Off and it was so much fun! But, the highlight was being able to tour O Henry s house and learn a little bit more about his personal history. The house tour is free and they have a lot of original items, including some of O Henry s personal effects. If you are a tourist, native Austinite, or just a nerd like myself, I highly recommend stopping in and checking out this historic house as well as next year s pun off!
Date: 7 years ago
Review №70
Rating: 4
Great little museum! Glad I found it - historical goodness!
Date: 7 years ago
Review №71
Rating: 4
Small free house-museum where has lived OHenry few years of his life. You can make a donation if you want.
Date: 8 years ago
Review №72
Rating: 4
Date: 8 years ago
Review №73
Rating: 4
This tiny little museum next to the convention center in the heart of downtown Austin gives a glimpse into life in Austin 100 years ago for an underemployed family man and aspiring writer, William Sidney Porter. The site is adjacent to a public transit bus and train stop, making it easy to enjoy the house and its small park on a sunny day. I went on a cold and windy winter day to hear a reading of The Cop and the Anthem, complete with a brief vocabulary lesson of words from the 1800s we dont use or use differently now. Its an intimate setting for monthly readings and other events that evoke the period of this well known author.
Date: 10 years ago
Review №74
Rating: 4
Wonderful place to visit.
Date: 12 years ago