2 Best Sights in Downtown with Sixth Street and Rainey Street, Austin

Built in 1888 from Texas pink granite, this impressive structure, capped by a 60-foot-wide cast-iron dome, stands taller than the U.S. Capitol (yes, everything is bigger in Texas), and it is certainly a crown jewel of the Lone Star State. The Renaissance Revival building dominates downtown Austin, visible from various points through protected Capitol view corridors, and it looks grandiose from every angle. The surrounding grounds, occupying 22 acres on a well-appointed hilltop, are just as impressive.

You can catch one of the free 30-minute historical tours, offered from 9:30 am to 4 pm on weekdays and from 12:30 pm to 4:00 pm on weekends, or take a self-guided tour anytime during operating hours. No matter how you choose to experience the Capitol, be sure to stand in the center of the star on the ground floor under the main floor's rotunda and look up, up, up into the dome and lose perspective for a moment—it's a Texas rite of passage.

Since 2004, Austin City Hall has served as the home of the municipal government and the anchor of downtown's Second Street District. The striking building embodies the New Austin, featuring energy-saving elements like solar panels and modern architectural designs. The angular, four-story limestone-and-concrete building is clad in 66,000 square feet of copper, with a cascading 40-foot waterfall that flows inside and back to Lady Bird Lake just across the street.

Inside, "The People's Gallery" offers a public art exhibit showcasing local artists' work year-round, free for public viewing on weekdays. The outdoor pavilion and amphitheater host free concerts by local bands on Fridays in the spring and fall.