What are the Austin moonlight towers?

The moonlight towers are 165-foot iron lattice towers Austin bought in 1894 and 1895 to light whole neighborhoods. Seventeen still stand, the only working set anywhere, and the Zilker Park tower becomes the Zilker holiday tree every December.

Is this a good Austin souvenir or Christmas gift?

Yes. It is a Austin Christmas ornament built on one true local story, made for people from Austin and people who love it. It ships ready to give in a white or gold gift box, and profits support hunger relief.

What size is the ornament and how is it made?

It is a 3-inch faceted crystal glass ornament with a white-backed print of original line-drawn art in the 1880s engraving style, with your choice of a white or gold gift box.

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Austin Texas Holiday Ornament - Moonlight Tower

$24.00 USD

Sale

Free U.S. shipping.

Size One size

Shape Circle + White Gift Packaging Circle + Gold Gift Packaging

Other Town & Animal Ornaments

An 1890s iron moonlight tower strung from crown to ground with lights, the way Austin dresses one every December. Locals know the spin under the tree; everyone else just wants the tower.

In 1894 and 1895 the city bought 31 towers, each 165 feet of iron lattice topped with carbon-arc lamps meant to light whole neighborhoods like moonlight. Seventeen still stand, the only working set left anywhere. Since 1967 the one in Zilker Park has been strung with thousands of lights every December into a 155-foot cone that the whole city calls the Zilker Tree.

The towers were the future once; a city lit from above instead of lamp by lamp. Austin kept them when everyone else tore theirs down, and the city still repairs them with original parts where it can.

The holiday turn is the part everyone remembers: you stand under the tree, look straight up, and spin until the lights blur into rings. Kids do it, grandparents do it, and the ornament puts the whole ritual on a 3-inch piece of glass.

Austin's moonlight towers are the last working set in the world, and every December the one in Zilker Park becomes the Zilker holiday tree, the center of Christmas in Austin and the Trail of Lights. This Austin ornament puts a moonlight tower on the glass, the Austin souvenir for people who know the city's history better than its skyline.

3-inch faceted crystal glass ornament, white-backed print, line-drawn in 1880s engraving style, your choice of white or gold gift box.

Every Austin ornament ships ready to give, and profits support hunger relief. Hang it on the tree, in a window, off a lamp, or send one to the person who misses Austin most.

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Today Austin is the capital of Texas and a Hill Country city of springs, lakes, and live music — a frontier capital grown into a creative metropolis without losing the river that runs through it. Our Austin designs gather that identity — the Capitol dome, the Hill Country and Barton Springs, the live-music heritage, and the violet-crown light — into wearable form. Austin, Texas — capital of the Lone Star State, where the Colorado River winds through the Hill Country.

Our Austin logo carries the Texas longhorn and the Lone Star over "Texas Republic · Est. 1845" — 1845 the year Texas joined the Union as the Lone Star State. The longhorn's sweeping horns stand for Texas frontier grit, and the single star for the independence that gave the Lone Star State its name. Printed in a distressed black-and-white that reads like old stockyard and state-fair signage, it's the Lone Star in shorthand. What makes this one Austin is the country behind it — the capital on the Colorado, the Hill Country springs, and the city of the violet crown.

Why People Visit Austin

Austin balances Texas-capital history with easygoing Hill Country life — spring-fed swimming, river trails, big landmarks, and a deep live-music heritage. It's a relaxed, walkable base for Central Texas and the Hill Country.

Austin Texas Merlin Classics retro vintage logo featuring the Texas longhorn and Lone Star over Texas Republic Est. 1845

Wear Local. Feed Local. Stay Classic.

Product FAQs

How does your sizing work?

Because items are made to order, we can’t accept returns for sizing or color choices. We do accept returns for defects, misprints, or shipping damage. Please review the detailed photos and descriptions before purchasing. Women’s fitted tees run small; if you prefer a looser fit, consider sizing up.

How do I send gifts?

All items ship without prices and include a simple packing slip for easy gifting. Enter the recipient’s shipping address and your billing address at checkout. Use your contact info to receive tracking updates. Orders typically arrive within 6–11 business days—please allow extra time for time-sensitive gifts.

How do I care for my item?

For apparel: wash cold, inside-out, with like colors; avoid bleach and high heat; tumble dry low or hang dry. For embroidery, iron inside-out to protect the stitching. See specific care instructions in product descriptions and also follow general best practices in caring for your items for long term enjoyment.

How are items made and when will they arrive?

We make each item on demand using premium blanks, embroidery, and soft-hand prints. Production usually takes 2–5 business days (excluding weekends and holidays). You’ll receive tracking once shipped. We currently ship to U.S. addresses via USPS, UPS, or FedEx. Most orders arrive within 6-12 business days.

What’s the return/exchange policy?

We accept returns for defects, misprints, or damage on arrival. Report issues within 30 days with photos and your order number, and we’ll replace or refund. Size or color changes aren’t supported after purchase, so please consult size charts before ordering if you are at all unsure.

Who are we?

Merlin Classics is a volunteer-run, AI-assisted apparel project celebrating timeless local style. Every item is made to order, and profits (revenue minus external product/marketing cost) support hunger-relief programs in the communities our collections spotlight. Classic looks, real local impact—every purchase helps.