Austin, Texas: The O. Henry Museum
In a small Queen Anne home in Texas, William Sidney Porter rested from his wide array of jobs. He would later be known as O. Henry, penning one of the most famous American Christmas stories, “The Gift of the Magi.”
Imprisoned on embezzlement charges, he wrote some of his stories in the Ohio State Penitentiary. Instead of moving the prison and turning it into a museum, they have made a museum of the modest home he lived in while he worked odd jobs in Austin.
The museum is a quick glimpse into Porter’s life in Austin, Texas.
“Porter lived in this 1886 Queen Anne-style cottage from 1893 to 1895. His home has since been restored and now contains artifacts and memorabilia from Porter’s life in Austin. The O. Henry Museum is a National Register Property and a National Literary Landmark of the City of Austin.”
This museum is a chance to see where Porter lived while he gathered the experience he needed to write some of the masterpieces of the American short story.
Where: 409 East Fifth Street Austin, Texas 78701 Google Map Phone: (512)472-1903