Old Bakery & Emporium

Old Bakery & Emporium Historic building in downtown Austin featuring a history museum, fine art gallery, and artisan shop. No longer a bakery, it is now serves several purposes.

The Old Bakery & Emporium (OBE) is a historic site that started as a bakery for the first 60 years of its existence. It is an emporium (shop) that features handmade crafts and art by local artisans and artists ages 50+. The 3rd floor Fine Art Gallery displays rotating art exhibits of local artists. It houses the Lundberg-Maerki Historical Collection, which depicts Austin’s transformation from a ru

stic frontier town to a modern, bustling state capital. Lastly, the OBE serves as a Visitor Information Center for tourists wanting to know what to see and where to eat. The Old Bakery is a registered national landmark.

1876
Swedish immigrant Charles Lundberg built the bakery. It had the largest oven in Austin.

1876-1936
The building was used as a bakery by various local bakers. The giant oven and the wooden baker's spade on the 2nd floor remain as reminders of the building's history.

1936-1963
The Old Bakery was vacant, deteriorating and scheduled for demolition.

1963
The Austin Heritage Society purchased and rescued the structure with the help of the Junior League.

1964
The Heritage Society began operating a Tourist Information Center and Coffee Kitchen in the building.

1970
When the mortgage was paid off, the Old Bakery was sold to the State of Texas.

1974-1976
The City of Austin Office of Bicentennial Affairs and the Texas Bicentennial Information Center rented the building.

1976
The building was renamed "Old Bakery and Emporium" a co-sponsored project of the Senior Programs Section of the Austin Parks and Recreation Department and the First Lady's Volunteer Program of the Texas Center for Volunteer Action.

1980
The State of Texas deeded the building and property to the City of Austin.

Art Spotlight: "Mexican Plum" by Amy WelchAmy Welch returned to art in 2019 after a 40 year hiatus. In 2020 she took c...
06/17/2026

Art Spotlight: "Mexican Plum" by Amy Welch

Amy Welch returned to art in 2019 after a 40 year hiatus. In 2020 she took classes in Nature Journaling and the Botanical Illustration at Laguna Gloria in Austin and never looked back!

See more botanical art at the opening of Beyond the Petal: Texas Native Plants and Their Pollinators on Saturday, June 20th! Learn more and RSVP for FREE >> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-petal-texas-native-plants-and-their-pollinators-tickets-1990028383465?aff=oddtdtcreator

At the opening reception of Beyond the Petal: Texas Native Plants and Their Pollinators on June 20th, we are pleased to ...
06/12/2026

At the opening reception of Beyond the Petal: Texas Native Plants and Their Pollinators on June 20th, we are pleased to host a talk by Kyle Cheesborough, Director of Gardens and Collections at the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center. He will share insights into pollinators and their vital relationships with native plants, offering a deeper perspective on the living connections that inspire this exhibition.

Learn more about Kyle's work & RSVP for FREE on our event page >> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-petal-texas-native-plants-and-their-pollinators-tickets-1990028383465?aff=oddtdtcreator

Thank you to everyone who came out to our 5th Annual Midsummer Festival last Saturday! We made flower crowns, danced aro...
06/10/2026

Thank you to everyone who came out to our 5th Annual Midsummer Festival last Saturday! We made flower crowns, danced around the maypole to live music by the Norrksen Three, and enjoyed many traditional treats!

Join us at the Old Bakery and Emporium on Saturday, June 20th, for the opening of Beyond the Petal: Texas Native Plants ...
06/10/2026

Join us at the Old Bakery and Emporium on Saturday, June 20th, for the opening of Beyond the Petal: Texas Native Plants and Their Pollinators, featuring the art of the Lone Star Botanical Artists!

Learn more and RSVP for FREE >> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/beyond-the-petal-texas-native-plants-and-their-pollinators-tickets-1990028383465?aff=oddtdtcreator

Lone Star Botanical Artists is an Artists' Circle of the American Society of Botanical Artists. Our mission is to provide a thriving, interactive community dedicated to perpetuating the tradition and contemporary practice of botanical art.

Rain or shine, our Midsummer festival WILL be taking place on Saturday, June 6th! We have a large tent outside, and our ...
06/05/2026

Rain or shine, our Midsummer festival WILL be taking place on Saturday, June 6th!

We have a large tent outside, and our museum will be open with inside space available! We look forward to celebrating with you!

Our 5th Annual Midsummer Festival honoring the Old Bakery & Emporium's Swedish American heritage is on Saturday, June 6th, from 11 am - 3 pm

Our 5th Annual Midsummer Festival is THIS Saturday, June 6th! Join us for FREE family-friendly fun, including live music...
06/05/2026

Our 5th Annual Midsummer Festival is THIS Saturday, June 6th! Join us for FREE family-friendly fun, including live music, flower crown making, and more!

Learn more and RSVP >> https://www.eventbrite.com/e/5th-annual-midsummer-festival-tickets-1988015788740?aff=oddtdtcreator

Here at the Old Bakery & Emporium, we honor Swedish immigrant Charles Lundberg, who founded this historic building and first filled it with the aromas of traditional Swedish delicacies. Our story began with a Swedish baker and his wife, and we continue to celebrate their heritage today, especially through our observance of Midsummer, one of Sweden’s most cherished historical holidays.

Address

1006 Congress Avenue
Austin, TX
78701

Opening Hours

Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm
Saturday 12pm - 5pm

Telephone

+15129741300

Website

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