[3] The town's notable early inhabitants included Noah Smithwick and Horatio Chriesman.

By 1830, the town had a population of about 200, general stores, taverns, a hotel, blacksmith shop, post office, newspaper and some forty or fifty log cabins.

San Felipe de Austin played an important role in the events of the Texas Revolution.

[4] On March 29, 1836, the colonists burned the town to keep it from falling in to the hands of the Mexican Army during the Runaway Scrape.

The site features a museum, interpretive trails, a statue of Stephen F. Austin, a replica log cabin, the 1847 Josey Store and relevant historical markers.