Our Austin Story Awards

Fermata
Texas Historical Commission Award of Excellence in Preserving History

The Downtown Austin Alliance and partners, Austin Parks and Recreation Department and Fermata Inc., were selected by The Texas Historical Commission as this year’s recipients of the Award of Excellence in Preserving History!

The award recognizes achievements in preservation planning, historic site identification, or research that leads to a greater understanding of state or local history. It is an honor to have “Our Austin Story”, a project focused on the heritage of Austin’s four historic squares and Congress Avenue, be recognized for documenting the stories that shaped these important civic spaces and offering a framework for celebrating, expressing and growing with respect for Austin’s diverse heritage.

Our Austin Story was commissioned by the Downtown Austin Alliance, in partnership with the City of Austin Parks and Recreation Department (PARD). Fermata developed the strategy as the lead consultant on the project.

In addition, the Austin City Council proclaimed January 31, 2019, to be “Our Austin Story Day.” The proclamation congratulated us for recently receiving the Texas Historical Commission preservation planning award, and for bringing these important Austin histories to the attention of the public. Thanks to Council Members Kathie Tovo and Leslie Pool for their help in arranging for this honor.

Fermata’s President Ted Lee Eubanks

The Wonder of Place

Fermata

Doug Stienstra, a student at the Austin Film School, interviewed me a few weeks ago for a SXSW project. This short film (around 4 minutes), the Wonder of Place, effectively captures some of the philosophy behind my life’s work. Thanks to Doug for putting together a film that gets to the heart of what I believe. I look forward to seeing this at SXSW.

The Wonder of Place – Short Documentary from Doug S on Vimeo.




https://vimeo.com/310990391

Open the Door

Fermata
Saint Mary Church, High Hill, Texas by Ted Lee Eubanks

The Texas Real Places 2019 conference is fast approaching. Sponsored by the Texas Historical Commission, the conference will be held next week in the Sheraton Austin hotel. I will be speaking on the interpretation of churches and sacred spaces on Thursday, January 17. My session, titled “Open the Door – Interpreting Churches and Sacred Spaces,” will be held in Capitol Salon BC, 3rd Floor, from 11:15 to 12:30. I hope that you can join me for this fascinating topic!

The Endurance of Faith

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We give thanks to God whose power is revealed in nature, and whose providence is revealed in history.

Ted will be guiding the next historical tour of St. Mary Cathedral on Saturday, November 17, at 1 PM. The group will meet on the front steps of the cathedral immediately following the 12 noon Mass. For those not familiar with St. Mary, the cathedral is located in Austin, Texas, at 203 East 10th Street, the corner of Brazos and East 10th.

During this tour, Ted will discuss topics as diverse as the restoration of the Catholic Church in Texas following the Texas Revolution, the design of the cathedral by Texas’ first trained architect, Nicholas Clayton, and the history of the stained glass windows that adorn the church. Join us at St. Mary Cathedral on November 17, and experience for yourself the endurance of faith.

Ted will also be talking about interpreting churches and sacred spaces at the Real Places 2019 conference in Austin. The conference is sponsored by the Texas Historical Commission and extends from January 16-18. Ted will be speaking on Thursday, January 17, from 11:15 am to 12:30 pm. His talk is titled “Open the Door – Interpreting Historic Churches and Sacred Spaces.” We hope to see you at either or both of these events!

Our Austin Story Final Report Available!

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For the past 15 months, Fermata and Ted Lee Eubanks have been working on an interpretive plan for Austin’s historic squares and Congress Avenue. Finally, the report has been released! We thank the Downtown Austin Alliance for their willingness to support this effort, and for all of the stakeholders and supporters who helped us through this effort to uncover Austin’s lost histories and to return them to their rightful place in the eye of the public.

Ted Lee Eubanks, Fermata’s founder and president, is one of two certified interpretive planners in Austin, and Fermata is the only certified interpretive planning firm available for these projects in Austin and the surrounding region. 

We are making the full report available as a PDF here, so enjoy getting to know the real Austin! For those only interested in reading the executive summary, that document is also available here.

Ted Lee Eubanks
Founder and President