William Sydney Porter, penname O. Henry, was an American writer of short stories known for their quirky characters, plot twists, dry wit, wordplay, and surprise endings. The O. Henry Museum in Austin collects and interprets documents, objects, and artifacts from his life, offering a glimpse into Porter's life during his Austin years when he started using the penname O. Henry.
It was also during this period that he began writing the short stories that would make him famous, including classics such as "The Ransom of Red Chief, " "Gifts of the Magi," and "The Cop and the Anthem." The bungalow that houses the museum is the place in which O. Henry lived with his wife and daughter between 1893 and 1895 before moving to Houston. The house was opened as a museum in 1934 and contains many period pieces, including Porter's furniture and personal articles. While mostly associated with North Carolina, his home state, O. Henry set 42 of his short stories in Texas.
409 E 5th St, Austin, TX 78701, Phone: 512-472-1903