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The University of Texas Tower is the focal landmark for the university. The Tower and the grounds around it are a nice stroll if you want to get a feel for this university.
Came here on Saturday. You need to reserve the ticket ahead of time, $6 to get in, spend about 10 mins to get through because you have to go through a scanner (like in the airport), then take elevators up. You will spend 35 mins up here, about 20 mins outside taking pictures and walk around (FYI - the top is all fenced up), and 10 mins listening to the guide talking about the history of the tower. My favorite story form the guide is that in the 1800's , the law demands that no building in Austin should be taller than the Capital building, so UT tower is four feet shorter than the Capital building, but what they didn't tell the government that the tower is build on top of 6 feet slope, so it is two feet taller (Do the Hook'em sign = 2 Feet). How was the view? It is ok, I have no emotional ties to Austin or the school, so the view was just ok to me.
Great university. Great people. Earn your degree here! Find your significant other here! UT has so much to offer. If you're looking on yelp to see which college you should go to, you are definitely doing it right. The food here is pretty good. Kins is better than Jester.
UT Tower was really cool - nice view of the city. Tickets were $6 per person and the whole tour takes about 45/50 minutes. Tours are very specific times and the tower is only open for organized tours you have to book in advance during one of the available time slots. Was a bit disappointed that the tour guides gave very little history of Texas, the Tower, UT, etc. They talked for about five minutes and the rest of the time is free time to walk around, take pictures, and see the views. Would have liked to hear more about it since they were UT tour guides who gave the tour. Also it was a freak incident, but our bags that we had to check (since you can't bring anything up in the tower besides things that fit in your pockets) got locked in this closet after the door jammed and it took over an hour to get our things out. Overall it's a cheap and enjoyable activity and has nice city views. I would recommend it but lock your stuff in your car instead of their lockers.
Nancy Rubins' Monochrome for Austin, a 2015 assemblage of metal boats stands like a giant tree outside the Norman Hackerman Building and it lends some flair to an otherwise bland campus intersection.
For $6, you'll ride an elevator and traverse several small staircases to reach the 29th floor. From here you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the skyline and the student guides will share several interesting stories. Tours are available Saturday and Sunday only and tickets must be reserved in advance.
For my 50th review, I had to choose something that I held close to my heart. I am actually pretty surprised to be the first to review, but I guess it makes it all the more special. The University of Texas Tower is an international symbol that serves as both a beacon of achievement and as an ebenezar (a rock that symbolizes a new beginning) for both students and alumni of the University of Texas at Austin. The tower can be seen from almost all around the city, and stands 301 feet in the air--that's over 6 feet taller than the Texas State Capitol! It is also lit on various days of the year for achievement, memorial, and more (http://www.utexas.edu/about-ut/tower-lighting). They offer tours for the tower ($6/person) on fairly random days of each month, but the schedule is updated often here: http://www.utexas.edu/universityunions/texas-union/scene/tower-tours/schedule It really is a great tour, and it offers something "different" to do on the weekends. They'll give a you brief overview of the tower's history, the carillion (bells), and 1966 UT shooter. If you're not up for the talk, no problem. You can feel free to skip it--they usually ask if you're interested in hearing more about the tower before they give you the history lesson. As a former UT alumnus, I enjoyed going up to the top of the tower and observing my college career from literally a bird's eye view. WARNING--get ready for major nostalgia! You'll be able to point out where you had your first class, where you first met that special someone, where you lived your freshmen year, where you spent hours upon hours studying for that test that you ended up bombing and much much more... What I loved was that my "wheres" eventually turned into "remember whens" and "remember that times." You see, a lot of memories start rushing back to you from 301 feet up in the sky. The peace and quiet at the top of the tower is definitely a breath of fresh air from the fast-paced life that normally consumes us. So when life is throwing you lemons or you need to take a mini get-away, check out the tower on the weekend. It really is a great place to reflect on how far you've come from what many consider the best four years of their life. Hook 'em.
5 months ago
The University of Texas at Austin tower (UT Tower) sits at the center of the University of Texas at Austin. Every path seemingly leads toward the Tower. The UT Tower was completed 1937 (307 feet tall). The Tower has long been the visual focal point of UT since I can remember...generational link between students, faculty, alumni and visitors. The inscription across the front state, "Ye shall know the Truth and the Truth shall make you free." I remember being on campus when the Tower rang for the first time...it's distinctive...it's memorable. It commands attention. The first time I heard the UT Tower clock ring, I immediately stopped. Also, it is absolutely nothing like experiencing the UT Tower lit up in orange after UT wins an athletic game. For students, the burnt orange glow becomes an emotional symbol for unity (one student body...one unified purpose), achievement (game won) and pride (as a student you can walk by another UT student and nod to them...each knows what it means). The UT Tower was originally constructed to house the university's central library stacks. Today, it is a working building filled with administrative offices and specialized collections. Unfortunately, the tower also represents an unpleasant memory. The University of Texas Tower shooting occurred on August1,1966, when a gunman fired from the observation deck of the UT Tower onto the campus below killing 15 people on campus and injured many others. UT survived this horrific incident and bonded even more so as a community. UT Austin is undergoing a multi year, $70 million restoration project to preserve and renew the Tower. While the UT Tower is built from materials, for me, it will always be a symbol of pride and hope. read more
While there was some construction around the UT Tower we were able to get close enough to it to get some good pictures we also learned the history of the building and the tragic mass shooting in 1966 when we took the city bus tour a few days before. The building is very impressive and really stands out on the campus. I imagine decades ago it would be more visible at other vantage points but even when I was in Austin about twenty years ago for the first time it didn't seem nearly as built up as when we were here on our latest visit and I do realize I have heard all sorts of comments that Austin is a city growing in leaps in bounds ( or was several years ago, pre-covid) but with all of the new buildings the UT Tower may be just a tad more obscured than it may once have been. Anyway I definitely recommend taking a look at it as it is a slice of Austin history. read more
Six bucks to access the tower, which you'll pay nearby and get your ticket. The tours depart on the hour and you must be on time. You will pass through a magnetometer and there are no bags or backpacks permitted. They do have lockers for storage. Once started, there's no early departure and there is no bathroom on the observation deck. So take that into account, as well as the weather, as you prepare to zoom to the top for the view. Yes, the UT Tower is *that* clock tower and that is something that the tour guides will not discuss. It's hard not to miss the chips in the concrete and you'll know what that's about. I think it is good that these have not been repaired. It is important not to gloss over the history of what happened that terrible, terrible day back in 1966. Once you get past those depressing thoughts, the 360 degree view from up here is special. On this particular day, there was a "loaner" pair of binoculars that you could use to look at the horizon and even as far away as Austin-Bergstrom Airport. You can get a decent panorama if you're *very* careful not to drop your phone. Enjoy the views, listen to the tour guides (actual UT students) talk about the history of UT and the tower and look out for their "trick" question. Hook 'em high. [Review 10188 overall, 1774 of 2018.] read more
14 years ago
Came here on Saturday. You need to reserve the ticket ahead of time, $6 to get in, spend about 10 mins to get through because you have to go through a scanner (like in the airport), then take elevators up. You will spend 35 mins up here, about 20 mins outside taking pictures and walk around (FYI - the top is all fenced up), and 10 mins listening to the guide talking about the history of the tower. My favorite story form the guide is that in the 1800's , the law demands that no building in Austin should be taller than the Capital building, so UT tower is four feet shorter than the Capital building, but what they didn't tell the government that the tower is build on top of 6 feet slope, so it is two feet taller (Do the Hook'em sign = 2 Feet). How was the view? It is ok, I have no emotional ties to Austin or the school, so the view was just ok to me. read more
Great university. Great people. Earn your degree here! Find your significant other here! UT has so much to offer. If you're looking on yelp to see which college you should go to, you are definitely doing it right. The food here is pretty good. Kins is better than Jester. read more
UT Tower was really cool - nice view of the city. Tickets were $6 per person and the whole tour takes about 45/50 minutes. Tours are very specific times and the tower is only open for organized tours you have to book in advance during one of the available time slots. Was a bit disappointed that the tour guides gave very little history of Texas, the Tower, UT, etc. They talked for about five minutes and the rest of the time is free time to walk around, take pictures, and see the views. Would have liked to hear more about it since they were UT tour guides who gave the tour. Also it was a freak incident, but our bags that we had to check (since you can't bring anything up in the tower besides things that fit in your pockets) got locked in this closet after the door jammed and it took over an hour to get our things out. Overall it's a cheap and enjoyable activity and has nice city views. I would recommend it but lock your stuff in your car instead of their lockers. read more
5 years ago
10 years ago
For $6, you'll ride an elevator and traverse several small staircases to reach the 29th floor. From here you will be rewarded with a spectacular view of the skyline and the student guides will share several interesting stories. Tours are available Saturday and Sunday only and tickets must be reserved in advance. read more
15 years ago
15 years ago
For my 50th review, I had to choose something that I held close to my heart. I am actually pretty surprised to be the first to review, but I guess it makes it all the more special. The University of Texas Tower is an international symbol that serves as both a beacon of achievement and as an ebenezar (a rock that symbolizes a new beginning) for both students and alumni of the University of Texas at Austin. The tower can be seen from almost all around the city, and stands 301 feet in the air--that's over 6 feet taller than the Texas State Capitol! It is also lit on various days of the year for achievement, memorial, and more (http://www.utexas.edu/about-ut/tower-lighting). They offer tours for the tower ($6/person) on fairly random days of each month, but the schedule is updated often here: http://www.utexas.edu/universityunions/texas-union/scene/tower-tours/schedule It really is a great tour, and it offers something "different" to do on the weekends. They'll give a you brief overview of the tower's history, the carillion (bells), and 1966 UT shooter. If you're not up for the talk, no problem. You can feel free to skip it--they usually ask if you're interested in hearing more about the tower before they give you the history lesson. As a former UT alumnus, I enjoyed going up to the top of the tower and observing my college career from literally a bird's eye view. WARNING--get ready for major nostalgia! You'll be able to point out where you had your first class, where you first met that special someone, where you lived your freshmen year, where you spent hours upon hours studying for that test that you ended up bombing and much much more... What I loved was that my "wheres" eventually turned into "remember whens" and "remember that times." You see, a lot of memories start rushing back to you from 301 feet up in the sky. The peace and quiet at the top of the tower is definitely a breath of fresh air from the fast-paced life that normally consumes us. So when life is throwing you lemons or you need to take a mini get-away, check out the tower on the weekend. It really is a great place to reflect on how far you've come from what many consider the best four years of their life. Hook 'em. read more
For only $6, the UT tower tour provides a lovely 360 view of Austin, lots of time for photos, and a nice brief history. The tour is offered at different times throughout the year, you need to check online for the schedule. They only take 25 people per tour, so you must reserve in advance. You need to show up at least 20 minutes before the tour to pick up and pay for your tickets at the hospitality desk located in the Texas Union building located on 24th and Guadalupe street, and then follow the orange stickers on the pavement to the door of the Tower building. You aren't able to take even small purses on the tour with you, only electronic devices, so you most likely will need to pay $1 for checking in your "bag". If you show up late, you may not get your tickets, as they forfeit reserved tickets to those on a wait list 10 minutes prior to each tour. Once in the tower, you will wait for your tour time to start. Once the tour starts, you will go through a quick security check, and then ride a tiny elevator 27 floors up, it's surprisingly fast for an old elevator. You will then walk up 3 short flights of stairs to the observatory deck, if you have someone who can't climb stairs they do have a auxiliary elevator available. The tour guides are students, and they talk very briefly in between two opportunities to head outside to enjoy the view. They are also available to answer any questions you might have at any time during the 50 minute tour. The 307 ft. tall building was built in 1937. The tower has a carillon which is home to over 23 bells ranging in size (I can't remember the total number of bells). The carillonneur just recently retired, but would several times a week play a concert for the students. They now have a Carillon guild made up of students and alumni who were taught how to play, who carry on this tradition. Also, I found it interesting that the tower used to be a library. The books were located on the different floors of the tower, on each floor students wearing roller skates would zoom around picking out books requested and sending them down to the main floor via the small elevators. Thus, the reason why the elevators are so fast, and narrow, they were created for the purpose of book delivery not people moving. Eventually, they created more efficient libraries and stopped using the tower for this purpose. Overall an interesting look into Austin history, while enjoy a birds eye view of the city today. NOTE: The elevators are old, so they don't always behave themselves. We ended up going up a couple of floors, and down some before we got all the way back to the bottom at the end of the tour. The guide mentions it happens all the time, but they always get you to where you need to go safely, "eventually". read more
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