Harry Ransom Center

Address:	300 W 21st St, Austin, TX 78712, USA
Phone:	+1 512-471-8944
Site:	hrc.utexas.edu
Rating:	4.5
Working:	10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–5PM 10AM–7PM 10AM–5PM 12–5PM 12–5PM

Location

Photos 100

Reviews 21

Leila Rahil

Thanks to a friend who works on Campus, I was given a full tour and this was one of my favorite stops! There are 3 must-sees here, 2 of which are permanent displays: -The Gutenberg Bible -The First Photograph -The Gone w/the Wind Exhibit The Gutenberg bible display is great and what a beautiful piece of preserved historical literature! They do a great job of enclosing the display case w/the book from the entryway ruckus, but be warned, you may only get a minute or two, if that, to yourself to admire the work of art as it is a tight space and people are not shy about squeezing in on you to get their peek. The First Photograph display is great as well! I actually had no idea UT even had this! The photograph itself is very small and super hard (if not impossible) to see up close. You have to stand back and admire it from afar and better yet, at an angle to make any discernible imagery out. The write-up on it is very informative! The Gone w/the Wind exhibit was neat. I have not read the book or seen the movie, so I am not, by any means, an GWtW expert, but the exhibit had props from the set, some great info, a first edition, and there were showings of the original screen tests in the auditorium. They even had this cool board to post a "post-it"of your thoughts on the exhibit to be collected and archived daily. Awesome on-campus discovery, especially for the low low price of FREE! Cant wait to see their upcoming exhibit, Alice in Wonderland!

Aarika Marino

I have only been to the Harry Ransom Center once, but I intend on visiting many times again. The exhibit I visited was a collection of Arnold Newman’s portraiture work. His portraits really got me thinking. If I were to have someone take a portrait of me, how would I want to be portrayed? The flow of the work and the interactive installations were fantastic. And as an extra surprise, there is a painting by Frida Kahlo tucked to the right of the entrance! I never had seen one in person before, but the detail was exquisite.

Michael Stevens

We just recently went and saw the exhibit on the censorship of books in the US. This place is incredible for what it offers for free, bit PLEASE donate. They have the first photograph EVER taken on display which is a pretty big deal. The staff was extremely knowledgable and helpful. We did not go upstairs into the library/archive area but have heard nothing but phenomenal things about what all they offer. Please visit, please donate. Also the huge open windows offer great lighting for photographers.

Joe Morse

A beautiful building at the edge of the UT campus, the Ransom Center is a literary museum unlike anything Ive seen. It houses one of the only original Gutenberg Bibles (the first mass-produced book ever), an original print of the predecessor to photography, and several interesting exhibits (showing when I was there was an exhibit about a Greenwich Village bookstore and an exhibit on censorship). Interesting place!

Peter Tsai

The worlds first photograph and a Gutenberg Bible are sitting 50 feet away from each other in this museum! Ive also seen amazing exhibits here including original works from Ansel Adams. Best of all, the museum is free! The cool glass windows are amazing as well and a great spot for pictures. If youve never been here, what are you waiting for?

Dan Alpert

I went here with a group for a guided tour of the Alice in Wonderland exhibit. I had never heard about this place and was very pleasantly surprised. Our tour guide patiently and knowledgeably answered many questions. The exhibit was quite interesting. I have a new place for my parents to go next time they visit while Im at work.

Patrick Lu

Ive been studying photography for over 5 years now, and the HRC has one of the best curated galleries that Ive seen in America. They have the entire Magnum archive which is absolutely flipping nuts. I could easily spend a month here looking at photos and I still wouldnt have scratched the surface of what they have to offer.

Meg McLaughlin

The HRC is a fantastic resource. Im a photographer and a human interested in the arts, so I try to go as often as possible. I havent been to a bad exhibit here. Some days I just go hang out with the first photograph. Sometimes I like to go to the reading rooms. The staff is lovely and welcoming. I cant recommend it enough!

Brittany Highland

I adore the Ransom Center. They had a Beat Generation exhibit from 2007-2008 that was my favorite exhibit ever, complete with the On the Road scroll. They currently have an indepth and fascinating exhibit on the King James Bible. The Center holds many treasures, including Scarlett OHaras outfits from Gone With the Wind.

Glenna Broderick

Seeing the first photograph, a Gutenberg bible and an exhibit of Magnum photographs in one afternoon was awesome. If I lived here I would be there digging through their archive at least once a week. This place is the best. Thank you Harry Ransom for making all this highly accessible to the public!

Wyatt Buckner

While I was there they they had a comprehensive showcase on Frank Reaugh that was organized very well. They also had a Gutenberg Bible on display which I found compelling. To my surprise with little advertising, off to the side they had the first photograph ever taken which I enjoyed very much.

Katherine Fan

This is not going to be your typical review of the Ransom Center, but... it makes for a fantastic photo backdrop. Ive been using the exterior glass walls, walkways, etc. for years for everything from just-for-fun to bridal sessions. It looks imposing at night, and approachable by day.

A Private User

Some spectacular stuff and great exhibits, but theres a kind of limited square footage for visitors and I dont think Id find enough here to love taking tourists out to it again and again. Still: one of the first photographs ever, a Gutenberg bible, David Foster Wallaces papers? Wow.

Carla Stevens

This is FREE, when not many things are anymore. I have been here many times and am never disappointed. The exhibits are always interesting, insightful and even if you think you know a lot about a subject there is always more to know. I never cease to be intrigued and informed.

Beth McKinney

I was really happy I finally went here. Everything from Robert Deniros boxing gloves to the Gutenberg Bible can be seen, and for free. FREE. I was going to give it 4 stats because Id hoped it would be bigger... But who can take away points when they didnt have to pay?

A Private User

This place houses the weirdest collection of old stuff you could ever imagine. Want to see the first Gutenberg Bible or the first, ever photograph on the same day? Yeah, me neither, but they have both, in the same building. Weird.

John Tobin

Highly recommend for locals and out-of-towners - the public area is small but has their permanent exhibits (Gutenberg bible and first photograph) and an always interesting rotating exhibit. Its also completely free.

A Private User

The collection is phenomenal. I would love to explore every inch of this place but youd probably have to live here for decades to be able to enjoy all of its treasures.

Meghan McCann

Great place! Employees care a lot about what they do and are very knowledgeable and the exhibits are great. Plus, its a good place to escape the heat in the summer

A Private User

I dont know how exciting the HRC would be to a tourist, but they have the first photograph, Gutenburg Bible, and lots of memoirs and collections willed to UT.

Lewis Desmond

worth checking out if you are on campus. saw an exhibit on a western artist last summer (cant remember his name) that was very well done. "the bible" is there