Neill Cochran House Tour

The Neill-Cochran House Museum, with its rare, intact slave quarters, provides a powerful lens into the history of slavery in Austin. Just blocks away, Jacob Fontaine—a formerly enslaved man—established The Gold Dollar, one of the first Black newspapers west of the Mississippi. His work gave voice to the African American community during Reconstruction, promoting education, civil rights, and economic empowerment.

Together, these sites illustrate a journey from enslavement to self-determination, highlighting the resilience and impact of Black Austinites. Their preservation offers a vital opportunity to reflect on the city’s complex past and honor those who shaped its cultural and civic foundations.

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Content development funded in part by the Powell Family Foundation