This realistic Neill-Cochran House Museum Self-Guided Tour helps you plan your next adventure in this museum.

The Neill-Cochran House is a 1855 mansion in Austin, Texas. This museum is a great example of Greek Revival architecture in the Capital of Texas.

This post includes affiliate links that will earn us commission if you make a purchase via these links.

Sights & Places of Interest

The Neill-Cochran House carries the names of its two most famous residents. This fact makes it similar to the Longfellow House Washington’s Headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Most people think of the mansions in New York and New England when asked about house museums. Of course, it is difficult to compete with the Vanderbilt Mansion, Staatsburgh, and Springwood.

Most of the mansions up north are built of stone and brick. These materials survive the test of time better than wood, the main building material in the South.

Yet, the Neill-Cochran House in Austin is a reason you should not write off mansions in the Southwest. This Neill-Cochran House Museum Self-Guided Tour walks you through all rooms of the mansion.

1. Front Foyer

Any visit to the Neill-Cochran House Museum starts with a walk through the Front Porch to the house entrance. You will find yourself in the Front Foyer as soon as you enter the museum.

There is a Welcome Desk a few steps from the door. You should check in with a museum staff member if you bought a ticket online. You could also pay for a self-guided tour right at the Welcome Desk.

With all formalities out of the way, you could start exploring the house museum. There are a couple of framed brochures and art pieces in the Front Foyer. But you should go to other rooms to see more items.

2. Front Parlor

You are welcome to explore the rooms in the Neill-Cochran House in any order you see fit. This Neill-Cochran House Museum Self-Guided Tour goes in a counterclockwise path.

As a result, the Double Parlor to the right from the Welcome Desk is the next room. It consists of the Front Parlor and the Back Parlor.

There is a a large display cabinet, a portrait, and a few other historic items. Like most rooms in this house, the Front Parlor has a fireplace.

It kept the residents warm in the winter. Take a note of the fireplace heat screen. It looks just like ones in the Gibson House and Nichols House in Boston, Massachusetts.

3. Back Parlor

As soon as you pass through a wide passage in the wall, you will find yourself in the Back Parlor. This transition is quite seamless. You might not even notice that you entered another room at first.

Yet, the Back Parlor has a very different look and feel from its neighboring room. There are guns and medical tools on display. This exhibit is quite different from the sewing machines in the Front Parlor.

The Neill-Cochran House joins the Haas-Lilienthal House in San Francisco, California as another house with two connecting parlors. This was a common blueprint in the mansions of that time.

4. Dame’s Alcove

The Back Parlor gives brings you to the Hallway behind the staircase. You could go straight to the Dining Room. But it might be a better idea to turn right into a long hallway.

You will go past a restroom to the Dame’s Alcove. You might not find this room too interesting at a first glance. There are a handful of framed documents and posters. But take a closer look.

A bluebonnet flower painting is the highlight of this room. The residents of this house played a part in getting bluebonnet selected as the state flower. You could these flowers all over Austin in the spring.

5. Exhibit Room

You should cross the Hall to the Exhibit Room after exploring the Dame Alcove. But it might be a good idea to stop by the Gift Shop first.

A small area of the hall is home to display case with items for sale. There are Christmas decorations, cross-stitch designs, and art pieces. You could buy a keepsake to help this House Museum.

The Exhibit Room does not have any historic furniture items. Instead, it is a large exhibition space. This is where most visiting exhibitions take place at the Neill-Cochran House Museum.

6. Dining Room

The Dining Room is one of the main rooms of the first floor. You need to go back through the Hallway towards the Front Foyer to reach it. You are certain to notice the historic furniture items in this room.

They date back to the 19th century and come from England and Ireland. Serving dishes and glasses are also on display in the dining room. They are on the table and in the display cabinets.

Plastic play food set helps younger visitors imagine a typical meal of the house residents. It is common to see such a display at dining room at house museums.

But you probably did not count on seeing dolls in the Dining Room. They are on display at the Neill-Cochran House. Take a look at their dresses, hair, and headwear and admire the craftsmanship.

7. French Parlor

The Dining Room connects to the French Parlor. This is the third parlor in the mansion. The Neill-Cochran House might be one of the only house museums with three parlors.

But you should not discount the French Parlor. It might be one of the most beautiful rooms in the house. Its design and art pieces resemble the Hillwood Estate in Washington, D.C.

A lot has to do with the French porcelain serveware. These items are everywhere in the French Parlor. You could find plates, serving dishes, cups, and tea pots on the walls and in the display cabinets.

8. Staircase

The French Parlor is the last room to see on the first floor. You will be back in the Front Foyer near the Welcome Desk. It is a great time to take a staircase to the second floor.

This steep and narrow staircase is not accessible. You will hear the creaking of the floor as you make your way up the stairs. These sounds give away the age of the house.

But do not jump to conclusions too soon. A handful of the mid 20th century houses in New Jersey make similar noises. Yet, those houses are less than 100 years old.

9. Upstairs Hall

You should take a few minutes to study the items in the Upstairs Hall. The office desk and chair belonged to Judge Cochran. They are now on display in the Hall.

Make sure to check out the record player on the other side of the room. It was one of the main sources of entertainment in the early 19th century.

The Upstairs Hall connects to a small Balcony over the Front Porch. You should ask a museum staff member if you would like to explore the Balcony.

10. Upstairs Exhibit Room

There are four rooms to visit on the second floor. This Neill-Cochran House Museum Self-Guided Tour takes a counterclockwise path. The Upstairs Exhibit Room is the first to experience on this path.

This room has slightly more historic items than the Downstairs Exhibit Room. There is a display cabinet and a desk in this room during most times.

Other items rotate depending on the exhibition. You could never be sure what things will be on display in the Upstairs Exhibit Room. It is a good reason to return to the Neill-Cochran House in the future.

11. Cochran Girls’ Bedroom

The Upstairs Exhibit Room connects to the Cochran Girls’ Bedroom. Just like with the Parlors and the Dining Room downstairs, you do not need to go back to the hallway.

The name of this room is as descriptive as it could be. It used to be a girls room back in the day. A beds, chest of drawers, and small chairs are in the Cochran Girls’ Bedroom.

You should also expect to see a few mirrors, sewing machines, shoes, and postcards. These items give you an idea of what a girl’s childhood looked like in a mansion in the 20th century.

12. Cochran Master Bedroom

Once you cross the Upstairs Hall, you will enter the Cochran Master Bedroom. This is yet another corner room in the house.

It is one of the only rooms that uses wallpaper for decor. The pattern is quite catchy. But it is not such an eyesore as the wallpapers in the Ernest Hemingway Birthplace Museum in Oak Park, Illinois.

There are also a few notable pieces in this bedroom. Leather gloves and a handbag are on a chair with two fox pelts. A red night lamp could fit nicely with the table lamps in the Winchester Mystery House.

But the dolls steal the show in the Cochran Master Bedroom. There is a realistic baby doll and a handful of porcelain figurines.

13. 1855 Bedroom

The 1855 Bedroom is the last room to explore on the second floor of this house museum. This room has rose colored walls, colorful rugs and duvet cover.

Otherwise, this room has a modest design. There are a handful of wooden furniture and design items. A full bed, chest of drawers and a mantel clock are the main sights to see.

A massive leather trunk will likely catch your attention. It looks like a treasure chest. This used to be the primary luggage in the 19th century. Good luck fitting it as your carry-on or a checked bag now.

14. Slave Quarters

You need to take the staircase back to the first floor after exploring the 1855 bedroom. Go through the Front Foyer and the Front Porch. But do not rush back to the parking lot.

The Neill-Cochran House Museum has one more area for you to explore. Go around the house next to the stone fence. You will arrive at a two-story stone house.

This house tells a darker story of the Neill-Cochran House Museum. It used to be slave quarters. You could enter both floors and get a feel for the dire living conditions of the servants.

Continue with this Neill-Cochran House Museum Self-Guided Tour. You will learn more about ways to get to the sights, entrance requirements, and places to stay.

Getting to Neill-Cochran House Museum

The Neill-Cochran House Museum is in the heart of Austin, Texas. The house museum is at 2310 San Gabriel St, Austin, TX 78705. It is at the corner of San Gabriel Street and 23rd Street.

The museum is in the West Campus neighborhood. This vibrant community is especially busy during the school year. Student apartments, fraternities, and sororities are everywhere on West Campus.

Finding parking in this neighborhood could be a challenging quest. That is why it is such a blessing that the Neill-Cochran House Museum has a designated free parking lot. It is small and fits a dozen of cars.

You could reach the Neill-Cochran House Museum quite easily by car. Depending on your staring point you might need to take Mopac Expressway or Interstate Highway I-35.

You could visit this museum using public transport. A ride costs $1.25 but it will not be the fastest way. Buses 1, 3, 20, 30, 105, 481, 801, 803, and 980 stop at Guadalupe Street. Bus 5 stops at Lamar and 24th.

There is some walking involved if you take a bus to this house museum. Note that there is 89 ft (27 m) in elevation gain if you walk from Lamar Boulevard. A longer walk from Guadalupe Street is much flatter.

Where to Stay near Neill-Cochran House Museum

Finding a place to stay near the Neill-Cochran House Museum should be quite easy. There are a handful of places to stay within a short walk from the museum.

Check out Moxy Austin – University and AC Hotel by Marriott Austin-University. Both hotels are on West Campus. You could be touring the House 15 minutes after leaving either place to stay.

You have even more options when you cross Guadalupe Street. AT&T Hotel & Conference Center and Hampton Inn and Suites Austin University Capitol are solid choices.

Hilton Garden Inn Austin University Capitol District is another two blocks south. This hotel is halfway between the museum and the Texas Capitol Building.

It is unlikely that the Neill-Cochran House Museum will be your main attraction in Austin. It might be better to find a place to stay within a short drive to the House.

There are a lot of options in the Downtown area. You cannot go wrong with Hotel ZaZa Austin or The Driskill, in The Unbound Collection by Hyatt. Both are luxurious options in the city center.

Free parking should be a consideration if you drive to the sights in Austin. In this case, places to stay in the Domain area might work out better.

Check out Residence Inn by Marriott Austin Northwest/The Domain Area and Hilton Garden Inn Austin North-Near the Domain, TX.

There are a few places to stay to consider south of the Colorado River. Take a look at Residence Inn Austin South and Aloft Austin Southwest. They are great for exploring the Texas Hill Country.

Entrance Requirements & Passes

The Neill-Cochran House Museum is open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesday to Sunday. Admission might be reduced during holidays and museum events.

This house museums joins the Meeker Mansion and Pittock Mansion in offering self-guided tours. You could explore the rooms of the house at your own pace whenever the museum is open.

Admission is $10 per adult and $8 per senior and student. Kids under 12 years old, museum members, and members of Blue Star Families visit free. Museum membership costs between $55 and $150.

You could take a guided tour of the Neill-Cochran House. But there is no set schedule for these docent led tours. You need to express interest and reserve a spot in advance.

The per-person fee is $10 regardless of age and status. A $60 minimum applies to all group tours. Having a big group helps a lot in getting this tour scheduled quickly.

The Neill-Cochran House offers a great number of events. Lecture series and community events often cost between $10 and $15 per person. The museum is a regular participant in the Austin Museum Day.

Takeaways: Neill-Cochran House Museum

The Neill-Cochran is the best house museum in Austin, Texas. It finds a balance between a well-preserved historic house interiors, visiting exhibitions, and community events.

The museum opening hours and admission fees are quite reasonable. You do not need to fly to Washington, D.C. or Boston, Massachusetts to go back in time.

The Capital of Texas gives you a chance to tour one of the best historic houses in the Southwest. Yet, this house is too small to be in the running for the best house museum in the United States.

You’d better like architecture, history, and arts if you plan on visiting the Neill-Cochran House. But you are better off visiting McKinney Falls or Pedernales Falls if you prefer the great big outdoors.

Take a look at this Neill-Cochran House Museum Self-Guided Video Tour. And visit the YouTube channel for the latest videos.

Frequently Asked Questions

Safe realist travels!