Share the Love with Flower Hill this Valentine's Day!

Flower Hill Foundation wins $215,132 grant from the City of Austin's Heritage Preservation Grant Program

The Flower Hill Foundation celebrates its Heritage Preservation Grant with Council Member Zo Qadri, Chief of Staff Sara Barge, Heritage Tourism Division Manager Melissa Alvarado, representatives of its architecture firm Lord Aeck Sargent, Jaime Alvarez and Andrea Kirk, board member Jeff Jackson and supporters. Photo courtesy of Charles Peveto. 

This Valentine's Day, the Flower Hill Foundation is pleased to announce a $215,132 grant from the City of Austin from the Heritage Preservation Grant Program housed in the Economic Development Department. The grant will allow Flower Hill to rehabilitate and restore its 1920s garage as an event space for hosting meetings, small gatherings, and public programs, helping engage Austinites and tourists alike in the history of the Flower Hill historic site. Joining 16 other Austin organizations receiving over $2 million in funds from the City of Austin's hotel occupancy tax, Flower Hill looks forward to partnering across the city to elevate our collective historic resources.   

Council Member Zo Qadri with Heritage Tourism Division Manager Melissa Alvarado, Executive Director of Flower Hill, Daniel Ronan, and board member Jeff Jackson. Photo courtesy of Charles Peveto. 

In a news release from the City of Austin, EDD Director Sylnovia Holt-Rabb stated, “The places and stories that represent Austin’s history demonstrate an enduring legacy of community, culture, and history while investing in their physical stability. We are honored to award grantees with the preservation resources necessary to advance these projects.” As Flower Hill moves forward in its efforts to interpret the broader Native American and African American history of the site, we are emboldened by the City of Austin's commitment to its heritage by funding this critical program and resulting preservation projects.

Flower Hill would like to thank Melissa Alvarado, Heritage Tourism Division Manager and leader of the Heritage Preservation Grant Program, and Assistant Director of the Economic Development Department, David Gray, for elevating the HPG program, as well as Council Member Zo Qadri's support for this important program. 

Community Open House points to Mixed-Use Flower Hill Vision for 150th Anniversary in December 2027

Left to Right: Yung-Ju Kim and children; Executive Director Daniel Ronan delivers opening remarks at Flower Hill's Open House.; Board Chair Natalie George addresses guests at the Open House. Images courtesy of Charles Peveto and Ryan Puzycki. 

We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended our first annual Community Open House on Saturday, January 28th. Many came to Flower Hill, some for the first time in a while, to hear from board members and Executive Director Daniel Ronan about the plans for the Flower Hill historic site.

As Daniel highlighted in his remarks, Flower Hill stands to tell a much broader history of Austin, including the stories of Howard White, Jenny Moore, Willis Maxwell, all Emancipated African Americans who worked at Flower Hill between 1893 and 1930 and lived in neighboring Clarksville. Moving forward, the museum is interested in a more holistic vision for the historic house and grounds and their interpretation, incorporating the narratives of these and other individuals who play a role in Austin's history. In addition, the museum will also serve as a gathering place for the community, serving the function of public park space, food and beverage, and special events, in addition to a museum.  

If you would like to be a part of the future visioning process, please email info@flowerhillfoundation.org. We are looking for candidates for the board of directors and members of the 150th Anniversary Advisory Committee, which both convene monthly. 

For those that had a chance to visit, we appreciate your interest and look forward to your continued support as were reimagine Flower Hill for the next 150 years!

Guests enjoying each other's company at the Flower Hill Community Open House. Images courtesy of the Charles Peveto and Ryan Puzycki. 

Help us Love Our Trees this Valentine's Day

Surveying tree damage at Flower Hill after Austin's early February storm. Images courtesy of the Flower Hill Foundation.

As we look to the future, we must also contend with the devastating impacts on life and property from Austin's unprecedented winter storm. Like many in Texas, Flower Hill lost large tree limbs due to heavy ice accumulation. Out of an abundance of caution, Flower Hill invited its arborist, Will Johnston, to examine the trees. Will documented more than $1,000 in damage to our heritage trees.