Designed by architect Paul Philippe Cret and completed in 1937, the UT Tower is a beloved icon in the Austin city skyline. The observation deck affords brilliant views of the campus and the Austin skyline.

Austin-ites know to look at the Tower at night. Illuminated with white lights or burnt orange, the various colorings of the tower indicate joy, sadness, or business as usual. Generally, more orange means a happier event; a darkened tower (with only a white cap) is noted for very solemn or sad occasions. The standard decor is solid white.

One-hour tours, which include the elevator ride to the 27th floor and the Tower history, are conducted on Saturdays and Sundays of most weekends during the school's semester. Unfortunately, there are no tours during major holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. Visitors who are unable to walk the final 3 flights of stairs to the observation deck may elect to ride the new elevator - just tell your tour guide if you'll be needing the extra lift.

To reserve a ticket in advance of your visit, you can call 512-475-6633 (1-877-475-6633) Mon. - Fri. 8 am - 5 pm CST.

Tickets: purchase at the Texas Student Union Information Desk (24th Street at Guadalupe St.) on the day of the tour. Note: you must arrive and pay for your ticket at least 20 minutes in advance of the tour time. Forfeited reservations are released for last-minute sales.

Tickets: $5 per person payable by cash or MasterCard/VISA.