Austin Living · November 2026
The short answer: Austin's moonlight towers are 165-foot iron streetlights the city bought from Detroit in 1894 and had lit by 1895. Roughly 15 still stand, and Austin is widely described as the last city still running them. Three are easy to visit from 78704: the Zilker Park tower that becomes the Zilker Holiday Tree, one in Bouldin Creek at Monroe Street and South First, and one in Travis Heights at Leland Street and Eastside Drive.
Here's the backstory and where to find them.
Find a Home Near a MoontowerCall (512) 608-8811
1894 Bought From Detroit Lit by 1895 | 165 FT Tower Height On a 15-foot foundation | 31 → ~15 Then and Now Survivors still in service | NOV 29 Zilker Tree Lighting Lit through Jan. 1 |
A Short History
In the late 1800s, towers were how cities lit large areas at once. Austin bought 31 surplus towers from Detroit, and each originally carried six carbon arc lamps, enough to light several blocks from a single point. Each tower rises 165 feet on a 15-foot foundation.
A popular Austin story ties the towers to the "Servant Girl Annihilator" murders of the mid-1880s. It makes a good campfire tale, but the towers arrived about a decade after those crimes.
The towers became a Texas landmark in 1970 and were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976. In the 1990s the city took them down and restored them in a $1.3 million project finished in 1995. Austin Energy still maintains them and restores towers on a rotating basis. Modern bulbs replaced the arc lamps long ago.
How Many Are Left
Of the original 31, roughly 15 still stand on city streets. A few survivors have come down over the years to make room for downtown construction, which is why the count varies from source to source.
The Three Closest to 78704
Zilker Park
The best known of the bunch. Since 1967, with just one dark year in 1973, crews have strung lights from the top of the Zilker tower to create the Zilker Holiday Tree. This year's lighting is Sunday, November 29, at 6 p.m., and the tree stays lit through January 1. Standing in the middle and spinning until you're dizzy is a rite of passage.
Monroe Street and South First, Bouldin Creek
A working moonlight tower on one of Bouldin's busiest corners, a short walk from South First's restaurants and coffee shops. Most people drive past without ever looking up.
Leland Street and Eastside Drive, Travis Heights
This tower was moved here from downtown, at East Fifth and Brazos, and now stands over a quiet residential corner of Travis Heights. It's a good excuse for an evening walk through one of Austin's older neighborhoods.
The Dazed and Confused Question
Movie trivia: Richard Linklater's 1993 film made "party at the moon tower" part of Austin's vocabulary. The movie places the party at the Zilker tower, but those scenes were shot at a mock-up built east of town. The real towers aren't open for climbing, so the party stays on screen.
Looking for a home with some history?
We know which streets in Bouldin Creek and Travis Heights still have their original character, and which ones are changing fast.
See All Three in One Evening
The Zilker, Bouldin and Travis Heights towers sit within a few miles of each other. A bike ride or a short drive connects them, and the weeks when the Zilker tree is lit are the best time to do it.
Related Reading from The Davis Agency
→ What's Holding Up the Barton Springs Rotunda Is the Exhibit Inside It
→ Best Real Estate Agent in 78704
→ Inside Bouldin Creek: Austin's Most Eclectic Luxury Neighborhood
Why the Towers Matter to 78704
The moonlight towers are a reminder that 78704's older neighborhoods have more than a century of history behind them. Bouldin Creek and Travis Heights hold some of the oldest housing in central Austin, and the towers are part of what gives those streets their sense of place. Buyers notice that, even if it never shows up in an appraisal.
If you're drawn to the older side of 78704, we can show you which original homes are worth saving and what they trade for.
Book a Private ConsultationCall (512) 608-8811
Derrik Davis · Broker/Owner, The Davis Agency · CLHMS Certified · TREC License #558841 · Serving 78704 and the greater Austin luxury market since 2006. Tower locations and the Zilker Holiday Tree schedule are managed by the City of Austin and Austin Energy; confirm details before you go.
