The Astin Mansion is perhaps Bryan's most famous historic home. Built by Roger Q. Astin in the early 1920s, its design is a mix of Renaissance and other architectural styles. The two and a half-story building features a portico at the main entrance, two chimneys, French doors, and other notable design elements. The Astin family was one of the area's prominent families and it played an integral role in developing the region. The mansion, which is now a wedding and event venue, was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Erected in 1914 on the highest spot in downtown Bryan, Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church is significant for its architecture and the fact that it is the oldest, continuously used church in Bryan. It was designed in the Gothic Revival style and features lancet-arched, stained glass windows, a large tower, and ornate interior woodwork.
Queen Theatre is a historic movie theater located in downtown Bryan. It was built in 1939 and is a fine example of Streamline Moderne architecture. It features a somewhat plain appearance with a marquee and a vertical sign topped by a crown, which lights up and rotates. In addition to the theater, the building also houses the offices of the Downtown Bryan Association and a Downtown Bryan visitor center.
The Carnegie History Center is a local history and genealogy research center that is part of the Bryan and College Station public library system. Built in 1903 and originally known as the Carnegie Public Library, it is named after steel magnate and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie (1835-1919), who donated money to communities all over the country to build libraries. The two-story building is a fine example of Classical Revival architecture, featuring a portico on the east side with Corinthian columns. Inside, the building features two original matching hand-carved pine stairways. The center houses a special collections, which contains three collections: the fire department collection; the Cavitt collection (the personal records of a local prominent family); and the Van Riper Collection (records of a local professor of political science). The second floor houses the center's genealogical research records.
Located in the center of Bryan’s historical downtown, the La Salle Hotel has been and remains to be one of the most significant architectural features of the city. The hotel was named after the infamous French explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, or more commonly known to many as Robert de La Salle. Built for prominent businessman of the early 1900’s Robert Wistar Howell, the La Salle was designed and constructed by Austin Native architect George Louis Walling to finally be completed in 1928. It is unknown exactly why the La Salle was named after the French explorer with the same namesake, but the affinity between the pioneering hotel that was unmatched for its time and the distinguished traveller who conquered land to put his country on the map is not to be overlooked.
One of the oldest religious buildings in Bryan, Temple Freda is a historic Jewish synagogue erected in 1912. It is also significant in that it is the only Jewish temple in the country named after a woman, Ethel Freda, who was the wife of the congregation's president (she passed away before the temple was completed). The one-story building was designed in the Classical Revival style and has been an important landmark since its construction. The building features a portico with Corinthian columns, stained glass windows, and a simple interior floor plan. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1983 and, as of 2019, is currently in the process of restored.
Saint Anthony's Catholic Church is a historic Catholic church built in 1927. It is historically significant for its Romanesque Revival architecture and association with the local Italian community, which founded the congregation in 1896. In terms of architecture, the church is two-stories tall and features stained glass windows, a two-tiered bell tower, round-arched recessed openings above the main entrance, and other decorative elements.
This Tour is a Walking Tour.
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This short walk begins at the Astin Mansion and moves east to Bryan's historic downtown with stops at the Queen Theatre, Carnegie History Center, La Salle Hotel, and several historic churches, synagogues, and other landmarks. Be sure to also visit the Brazos Valley African American Museum, located about half a mile north and east of the downtown area.
