About Indelible Austin: Selected Histories

Indelible Austin: Selected Histories collects several dozen historical columns written by Michael Barnes and originally published by the Austin American-Statesman. The notion of publishing a book grew out of frequent reader requests for a collected version of these stories which have not been covered in standard histories of Austin. The columns connect Old Austin with New Austin and almost always bring the historical record into the present. Themes include the natural settings, built environments, older neighborhoods, ancestral families, park gems, the meeting of politics, cultures and charity, as well as interpretations of how Old and New Austin relate. Stories from African Americans, Hispanics, Asian Americans and the LGBT community are all featured.

Among those who have shared their endorsements of these writings are State Sen. Kirk Watson, Austin Mayor Steve Adler, former Mayor Gus Garcia, Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonist Ben Sargent and prominent preservationists and historians such as Wayne Bell, Kim McKnight, Bob Ward and Lisa Byrd. We recently established a website, IndelibleAustin.com

"If you want to feel like Austin is your hometown and you have deep roots here, read everything Michael Barnes brings to the stage, and keep reading him. He will give your a feeling of belonging to this place. You will not want to leave." — Lee Cooke, former Mayor of Austin

"Michael Barnes has a gift for telling Austin's story. His work exhibits the mid of a scholar, the fine touch of a talented writer, and the curiosity of journalist." — Don Carlton, Director, Briscoe Center of American History

"Indelible Austin is capturing the historical foundation of Austin's soul. Michael is bottling our stories for many future generations. His work is invaluable." — Lonnie Limon,Managing Director, Dieste, Inc.

"Michael is a gifted writer who understands the thin line between Texas history and hysteria.” — Jaston Williams, playwright, director, "Greater Tuna" and more

"With Michael Barnes' fascinating articles, Austin's past has been revived. It now has an energized voice founded in research and recollection that bring to life the city's development in all its achievements and struggles, entertainment and sorrows, inequalities and diversity. I thoroughly enjoy discovering something new about Austin when I read his articles and I share them with others." — Sylvia Orozco, Director, Mexic-Arte Museum

"Michael Barnes has no equal in discovering and sharing hidden gems of history. His Statesman byline is an invitation to delightful reading." — Julian Read, national public relations counselor

"Michael Barnes has recovered scores of significant but forgotten moments in Austin's history." — Michael Gillette, Director, Humanities Texas

"Michael Barnes is inspiring to be hungry mind. His career as a journalist spans many facets of the industry, and he has a knack for unearthing new lays of life and history in Austin" — Doug Castillo Steinstra, writer, Life on Planet

"When great stories cross the path of a great storyteller, we are all the beneficiary. Michael Barnes is just such a writer and his historic tales of Austin both entertain and enlighten us all. We are lucky that be calls Austin home" — Jim Ritts, Director, Paramount and Stateside theaters

"My dear friend Michael Barnes scores another hit and captures the spirit and history of Austin in this second volume of Austin lore. " — Gregory Vincent, President-Hobart and William Smith Colleges, former University of Texas Vice-President for Diversity and Community Engagement