Through Listening to the Land – Laguna Gloria, visitors can experience the beloved lakeside property through oral history, local lore, archival imagery and augmented reality.
Officially launching Sept. 20 on Austin Museum Day, the free app guides visitors through Laguna Gloria’s ecological and historical evolution, concentrating on the era before former owner Clara Driscoll donated the property to the Texas Fine Arts Association in the 1940s.
What is Laguna Gloria?
Set along the shores of Lake Austin, Laguna Gloria is one of The Contemporary Austin’s two sites, alongside the Jones Center downtown. The 14-acre property is home to the Betty and Edward Marcus Sculpture Park, where contemporary art is displayed among gardens, trails, trees and the lakeside landscape. It also houses The Contemporary Austin’s community art school, offering classes ranging from ceramics and painting to photography, textiles and metalsmithing.
Yet the property’s story stretches far beyond its role as an arts destination. Its waterways, natural resources, gardens and architecture reflect centuries of human interaction with the land and connect to the broader history of Austin.
At the center of this history is the Driscoll Villa. Built in 1916 by philanthropist and ranching heiress Clara Driscoll, with the help of architect Harvey L. Page, Driscoll entertained and used the home as a residence. Driscoll was drawn to Laguna Gloria’s waterfront location, and Stephen F. Austin himself once sought to build a home there.
The estate features an Italianate and Mediterranean Revival style, inspired by Driscoll’s honeymoon in Lake Como, Italy.
In 1943, Driscoll donated the estate to the Texas Fine Arts Association to be used “as a Museum to bring pleasure in the appreciation of art to the people of Texas.”
“Laguna Gloria is a very special place for so many reasons—its nature, history and beloved grounds are deeply embedded in Austin,” said sharon maidenberg, Ernest and Sarah Butler Executive Director and CEO of The Contemporary Austin.
The project grew from a 2022 cultural-landscape report commissioned from Acacia Heritage Consulting, helping inform The Contemporary Austin’s commitment to exploring three interconnected elements at Laguna Gloria: art, nature and history.
What is the Listening to the Land – Laguna Gloria walking tour?
Designed as a form of “quiet technology,” the app combines about 40 minutes of audio storytelling with augmented reality to take visitors back through time.
At key points along the trail, visitors can hold up their phones to see archival photographs and moving images layered over the modern landscape, revealing what the grounds and Lake Austin waterways looked like decades or even centuries ago.
“The goal is not to have people staring at their phone while walking around, but to give a sense of Clara and her journey, and really go backward in time,” maidenberg said.
That journey can reveal a very different Laguna Gloria. Before the river was dammed, maidenberg said, the area was a dynamic running-water location where people gathered to swim and enjoy the natural environment.
“Being able to both imagine it and hold up your phone to see people in the water enables you to step right into that history,” she said.
The project was created in collaboration with creative studio The Future of StoryTelling and supported by grants from the City of Austin Economic Development Department, the City of Austin Historic Preservation Fund and the Texas Historical Commission through its Texas Preservation Trust Fund grant program.
What stories does the tour tell?
The audio guide brings together historians, an Indigenous scholar, a horticulturalist and an ecological planner to explore the layers of human and natural history that shaped the property.
Listeners hear from Acacia Heritage Consulting’s Rachel Feit; Indigenous scholar Dr. Marissa Aki’Nene Muñoz; Siglo Group ecological planner Jonathan Ogren; former head horticulturalist at The Contemporary Austin Liz Brewer; and Annette Carlozzi, founding curator of the Laguna Gloria Art Museum and current Trustee at The Contemporary Austin.
“It’s intentionally a cross-section of people—from history to land, to Indigenous, to horticulture—all in service of trying to give a layered understanding of the complexity of the site,” maidenberg said.
Stories touch on the Indigenous history of the waterways, native plants and wildlife, the impact of dam construction and the people who shaped the landscape. Together, they reveal how the natural and built environments have continually influenced one another.
Why explore Laguna Gloria’s history?
For longtime locals and first-time visitors alike, the guide offers a fresh perspective on a familiar landscape, framing the property’s natural beauty within a much larger story.
By illuminating how the site’s native habitats, shoreline and built structures have evolved alongside the city, the tour invites guests to slow down and notice how these elements inform the contemporary artworks on view today.
“Places are always more interesting and meaningful when you understand a little bit more about how they ended up being what they are,” maidenberg said. “Even if you’ve been to a spot and think you know it, there is always something new to learn and see through fresher eyes.”
How can visitors experience the tour?
The app will soon be free to download from the Apple App Store and Google Play by searching “Laguna Gloria.” No account or personal information is required.
While the tour is designed for exploring the grounds, its audio can also be accessed from home through the app’s Playlist tab. Visitors can bring headphones, or they can listen out loud, and should budget about an hour for the full on-site experience, including travel time between stops along the tour.
The tour is available in English and Spanish and includes an accessible route option that avoids stairways. The app also includes full-text transcripts, while the physical routes feature a mix of paved and semipaved surfaces, wood-mulch paths and small wooden footbridges.
When can visitors take the tour with the app?
Listening to the Land – Laguna Gloria officially launches Sunday, Sept. 20, on Austin Museum Day. Visitors can experience the tour during Museum Day hours from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with free admission throughout the day.
Following the launch, the tour will be available at any time through the app, and the on-site experience will remain available during normal grounds hours, Wednesday-Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., with extended hours Thursdays until 9 p.m.
Whether exploring the grounds for the first time or returning to a familiar favorite, the experience offers another way to wander Laguna Gloria—listening to the stories held by its water, trees, gardens and paths.
Plan your visit
Visit Laguna Gloria: 3809 W. 35th St., Austin
Download the app: Apple App Store or Google Play Store
Learn more: Visit The Contemporary Austin’s Laguna Gloria page
The above story was produced by Community Impact’s storytelling team, using information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need cellular data or Wi-Fi to use the tour while walking the grounds?
Free public Wi-Fi is available across the grounds at Laguna Gloria, making it easy to download the app on-site. However, downloading the app before arriving via home or office Wi-Fi can ensure a smoother, faster setup before starting the walk.
Is the tour suitable for children and families?
Yes. While the audio content was written primarily with adults in mind, the storytelling, outdoor pathways and interactive augmented reality features make it engaging and appropriate for visitors of all ages.
Can I bring my dog on the walking tour?
Leashed, well-behaved dogs are welcome on the grounds of Laguna Gloria, making the walking tour an outdoor activity visitors can enjoy with their pets.
Do I need to purchase museum admission to use the app?
The app is free to download and use. Admission to the Laguna Gloria grounds varies based on the day of the visit and membership status, though admission is free sitewide during Austin Museum Day on Sept. 20. On Thursdays, The Contemporary Austin is free and open late.