North Austin News

The Elisabet Ney Museum, located at 304 East 44th Street, will close to the public on December 30, 2024, for renovations. This museum, a historic site that was once the art studio and residence of sculptor Elisabet Ney in the 19th century, receives about 21,000 visitors annually. It holds federal, state, and local historic landmark designations. The museum is expected to reopen in the summer of 2026.

The renovation work is part of a Capital Improvement Project (CIP). The project includes restoring original exterior wood doors and windows and upgrading or replacing the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Additionally, it involves replacing exhibit and general lighting systems and repairing the roof, masonry, plumbing, and interior finishes.

Exterior improvements include replacing the pedestrian bridge across Waller Creek and installing accessible pathways to better connect the museum's grounds. Site work also encompasses approximately 20,000 square feet of Waller Creek bank stabilization.

Funding for this restoration comes from various sources: "2012 Bond," "Proposition 14," "the Parkland Dedication Fund," "the Historic Preservation Fund," "Partners in Preservation through the National Trust," and contributions from "the Friends of the Elisabet Ney Museum."

For further information about improvements at the Elisabet Ney Museum, visit their project page.

The museum serves as both a historic home and studio for Elisabet Ney. She was a German sculptor who moved to Austin in 1882. The museum celebrates her art through exhibitions and events designed for families. More details can be found at AustinTexas.gov/Ney.