bartonspringsconservancy

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It’s Throwback Thursday! Thanks to our friends at @Texas Archive for sharing this vintage footage from 1943. At the beginning, the narrator refers to the pool as “Zilker Springs,” not Barton Springs. On April 15, 1943, Austin City Council voted to change the name from Barton Springs to Zilker Springs, though it is unclear when the name was changed back. Much else was different, too. The pool remained segregated and would continue to be for nearly 20 more years. In the summers following this clip, attendance also fell dramatically as polio scares swept the city. Although both the pool and Austin have changed in many ways since then, the water still holds its same cold, inviting draw. What do you think about the name Zilker Springs? If you could rename Barton Springs, what would you call it?   #ForTheLoveOfTheSprings #BartonSpringsConservancy #VolunteerAustin #BartonSprings #AustinTX

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Did you know there is a massive tunnel hidden beneath the sidewalk at Barton Springs? If you walk along the bathhouse side of the pool, you are just inches above the Bypass Tunnel. Built in 1976, it is six feet high, ten feet wide, and nearly 1,000 feet long, making it a remarkable part of Austin's history. The tunnel was created to prevent flooding and debris from entering the pool after rain. Before it was built, even light rainfall could flood Barton Springs, cloud the water, and force days-long closures while staff worked to clean it. As Austin developed, more natural land was replaced with pavement, increasing runoff and reducing water recharge for the Edwards Aquifer. Environmental reporter Daryl Slusher explained that the bypass was an official acknowledgment that the creek water was harming the Springs and a sign that the City planned to approve much more development in the watershed. Construction lasted 15 months, from December 1974 to March 1976, leaving Austinites without their favorite swimming spot. Some thought the tunnel was only a temporary solution as development continued to grow and increase runoff into the creek. In 2012, repairs were made to the tunnel to fix leaks that were pulling pool water into the bypass.  Barton Springs requires constant care and maintenance to preserve its beauty and function. We’re proud to support efforts that help our community maintain one of Austin’s most treasured spots. #ForTheLoveOfTheSprings #BartonSpringsConservancy #VolunteerAustin #BartonSprings #AustinTX

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Swim caps, bathing caps, whatever you call them, Barton Springs has them. Over the years, swimmers and visitors have stroked in style with this top-of-the-head accessory. Scroll through these photos to see the many fashions and personalities swim caps have brought to Barton, past and present. Do you swim with a cap? Show us yours! Photo 1: A historical image of young ladies in the 1920s with their swim caps (PICA 11606, Austin History Center, Austin Public Library) Photo 2: A group picture of the Austin Water Moccasins (a loose band of Barton Springs devotees of Austin swimmers, photo by Karen Blizzard) Photo 3: Three women in stylish purple caps (Image by Anthony Maddaloni) Photo 4: The Flowered Cap Ladies, a group that wears their florals into the pool. Also known as AWDAT (Amazing Women Do Amazing Things) Photo courtesy Ginny Rohlich Royal Photo 5: Another take on the flowered cap look Photo 7: Yet another take on the flowered cap look… #ForTheLoveOfTheSprings #BartonSpringsConservancy #VolunteerAustin #BartonSprings #AustinTX