Culture, Historic House, Historical Society
One of Austin's most important historic houses, the Neill-Cochran House was built in 1855 by the Master Builder Abner Cook, who also designed the Texas Governor's Mansion, both in the Greek Revival style. The House served as the first Asylum for the Blind in Texas and was a hospital, under the command of General George Armstrong Custer, for the Union Army during Reconstruction. It was not owner-occupied until 1876 when Colonel Andew Neill purchased it for his family. Judge Thomas Cochran bought the House from Col. Neill's widow in 1895, and it remained in the Cochran family until 1958, when it was sold to the NSCDA, who preserved it and opened it to the public in 1962.