Neill-Cochran House Museum
We interpret 100 years of Austin history starting with the house's construction in 1855 in the (then) Austin suburbs.
The Neill-Cochran House Museum is a treasured part of Austin's history. The historic house was built in 1855 by Abner Cook, the Master Builder who also designed the Texas Governor's Mansion and several other important historic buildings around Austin. The House has survived, largely unchanged, through several tumultuous periods in American History, not only as a residence, but also, at times, as a school, a hospital, and now, a museum and event rental facility. The NCHM is one of the few antebellum historic residences open to the public.
The Neill-Cochran House Museum strives to be accessible to our community. We offer tours of the historic home and the surrounding grounds to individuals and groups, including schools, Scout troops, and religious and cultural organizations. At his time tours are available by appointment only. Please call or email us in advance to schedule your tour. Group tours may be scheduled at alternate times with discounted rates; please contact the museum for details.
In addition to tours, the NCHM also hosts several community events through our support organization, the Friends of the Neill-Cochran House Museum. To date, we:
- have hosted our popular Modern Times lecture series, featuring local experts discussing historic topics relevant to the House;
-have hosted several Modern Times: Kids Only, a series of educational - and FUN - events aimed at our young community members, such as our Easter Egg Dye-o-rama, Historic Haunts, and the Gingerbread House-Raising;
-host an annual donor thank-you and community holiday event, Champagne & Carols;
- participate in the Blue Star Museums Program for Military Families, Austin Museum Day, with tours, historic demonstrations, refreshments, and activities free of charge to the entire community, and Smithsonian Museum Day
Lastly, the Museum is now proud to offer our facilities for private event rentals. With plentiful parking in Central Austin, a historic pedigree, and several options based on the number of guests you expect at your event, we are a fantastic and cost-effective option for wedding ceremonies and receptions, a beautiful backdrop for engagement and bridal photography sessions, a memorable spot for off-site workshops, meetings, and luncheons, a grand location for galas, and much more.
Please visit the museum for a tour or any of our numerous events, or contact us about our facility rental program. We look forward to seeing our Central Texas community here at the museum!
