Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Sixteenth Street & Congress Avenue, Austin, Travis County, TX

Significance: Swedish immigrants to Texas were inaugurated by Swante Magnus Swenson when he arrived in the Republic of Texas during 1838. Inspiring other groups from his native Smaland. He caused the local Swedish communities to grow greatly in size. However, most of these immigrants were absorbed by church congregations other than their native Swedish church. Following a large wave of immigration from Jonkoping to Texas in 1867, it was decided to establish a Swedish congregation. On December 12, 1868, the Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Gethsemane Church was duly organized - with Swante Palm as the first secretary. This was the first Swedish Lutheran Church in Texas...
Unprocessed Field note material exists for this structure: FN-59
Survey number: HABS TX-3137
Building/structure dates: 1868 Initial Construction