Barton Springs Pool in Austin

Barton Springs Pool, located in Austin, Texas, is a popular tourist attraction and a prime spot for swimming and relaxing. Known for its clear, cool water, Barton Springs Pool is actually fed by natural springs originating from the Edwards Aquifer. The pool itself measures three acres and remains at a consistent temperature of 68-70 degrees Fahrenheit. It's a popular spot for both locals and tourists, with an annual attendance of over 800,000 people. But the pool’s history goes back much further than its popularity today. Indigenous nations, including the Tonkawa, Apache, and Comanche, used the springs for medicinal purposes. The springs were named after William Barton, who received land grants in the area in the 1830s. In the 1900s, Andrew Jackson Zilker generously donated the springs and lands to the city, which eventually became the park and pool that we know today.