O. Henry Museum, Austin

This quaint Victorian cottage, situated in Downtown Austin, holds historical significance as the former residence of the renowned American writer, William Sydney Porter, who is better recognized by his pen name, O. Henry. Constructed in 1886, the cottage embodies the simplified Eastlake Style of architecture. Between 1893 and 1895, Porter and his family resided here before relocating to Houston, where Porter embarked on his full-time writing career at the Houston Post. Despite being primarily associated with his home state of North Carolina, O. Henry set 42 of his stories in Texas.

The cottage remained a rental property until 1930 when plans were made to demolish it to make way for a warehouse. However, in January 1934, a committee representing various women's organizations, including the Colonial Dames, the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Daughters of 1812, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, and the Daughters of the Confederacy, proposed to the Austin City Council that if the city accepted the house as a donation from the Austin Rotary Club and agreed to relocate it, these organizations would undertake its restoration and transform it into a "shrine."

The City of Austin oversaw the relocation of the house from its original site at 308 East 4th Street to its current address. Subsequently, in 1934, the house was meticulously restored and opened as a museum. The museum showcases numerous period pieces, including some of the Porter family's furniture and personal items, along with books, manuscripts, and photographs documenting Porter's life in Austin. The house underwent further restoration in 1994–95, including a new roof and the replacement of four brick chimneys that had been lost in 1934.

Recognizing its historical significance, the Porter house was added to the National Register of Historic Places on June 18, 1973. It is currently known as the O. Henry Museum and serves as the venue for the annual O. Henry Pun-Off, a spoken pun competition held traditionally during the first weekend of May.