ATXplained

September 20, 2017

Why Aren’t West Lake Hills, Sunset Valley And Rollingwood Part Of Austin?

There’s a bunch of island cities in South Austin. How did it get that way?

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August 24, 2017

What Happened to First Street?

There’s no First Street where you’d think it would be. But there is one where you wouldn’t think.

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August 8, 2017

Why Are There So Many Mattress Stores In Austin? 🛏

You’re standing in a mattress store. Right across the street are two more mattress stores.

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July 31, 2017

Why Is Hippie Hollow Clothing-Optional?

Everyone knows you go to Hippie Hollow to skinny dip. But how did it get that way?

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June 29, 2017

What The Heck Are Those Blue Panels Along The Lamar Underpass?

When you’re driving down Lamar Boulevard between Lady Bird Lake and Fifth Street, do you ever look at the walls of the underpass beneath the train bridge? Do you look at those blank blue signs on the walls of the underpass and wonder: What the heck are those things?

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June 1, 2017

What’s Up With Those Handmade ‘We Buy Houses’ Signs Around Austin?

You’ve probably seen them while driving around town –- those handwritten signs next to the road with messages like: “We buy houses for cash! Call now!” What are they about, and why?

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May 11, 2017

Were There Convicts On Convict Hill?

In 1881, the first Texas Capitol building burned to the ground, and leaders set about building a new one. They wanted to use local materials, including limestone from a quarry in Oatmanville – the area now known as Oak Hill – so they built a 6-mile railroad line from Oatmanville to the Capitol site. Then […]

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January 13, 2017

The History, Mystery and Misery of MoPac

The glorified parking lot known, at least officially, as Loop 1 has given many a driver plenty of time to ponder its quirks while stuck in traffic.

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