Texas Vacation and Travel Ideas for Literary Tours
O. Henry Museum
409 East Fifth Street
Austin, TX 78701
Website: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/ohenry.htm
Email: Go to the bottom of website homepage
Phone (512) 472-1903
O. Henry was the pen name of William Sydney Porter (1862 - 1910), best known as a writer of witty short stories with surprising endings. He wrote about 400 short stories, and developed a very enthusiastic readership, although his work was often dismissed by the critics. Porter's own biography offers as many twists as one of his stories, including flight to Honduras after an indictment for embezzlement, followed by a conviction and three-year prison term.
A native of North Carolina, Porter moved to Texas in 1882. The O. Henry Museum is housed in the 1886 Queen Anne-style cottage that Porter occupied in Austin from 1893 to 1895. The restored home contains artifacts and memorabilia from Porter's life in Austin. The museum sponsors a variety of events, including the Annual O. Henry Pun-off World Championships and a writing club for children. Porter moved to New York City in 1902 as he began to enjoy increasing success as a writer, so that he could be closer to his publishers.
Also noteworthy is the O. Henry Room at the Capital Visitors Center in Austin. For more information see , visit: http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/CVC/exhibits/ohenry.html, or call: (512) 305-8400
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O. Henry Room
Capitol Visitors Center
112 East Eleventh Street
Austin, TX 78711
Website: http://www.tspb.state.tx.us/CVC/exhibits/ohenry.html
Email: cvc.cvc@tspb.state.tx.us
Phone: (512) 305-8400
O. Henry was the pen name of William Sydney Porter (1862 - 1910), best known as a writer of witty short stories with surprising endings. He wrote about 400 short stories, and developed a very enthusiastic readership, although his work was often dismissed by the critics. Porter's own biography offers as many twists as one of his stories, including flight to Honduras after an indictment for embezzlement, followed by a conviction and three-year prison term.
A native of North Carolina, Porter moved to Texas in 1882. The O. Henry Room at the Capitol Visitors Center has been preserved in memory of Porter, who worked as a draftsman for the General Land Office. The Land Office's spiral staircase, which was made famous in the story Bexar Scrip #2696 (Murder at the Land Office), greets visitors upon entering the room. An exhibit focuses on Porter's life in Texas, and visitors can listed to condensed versions of O. Henry stories that are set at the Land Office.
Also of interest in Austin is the O. Henry Museum. For more information, see , visit: http://www.ci.austin.tx.us/parks/ohenry.htm, or call: (512) 472-1903.
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