Broken Spoke dance hall on South Lamar Boulevard now has Texas Historical Marker

Roughly four months after Austin City Council approved a resolution urging local historic designation for Broken Spoke, the famous honky-tonk dance hall on South Lamar Boulevard officially received its official Texas Historical Marker.

The state designation became concrete Wednesday night with the installation of the hall's historical marker plaque and a dedication from First Lady Cecilia Abbott.

"Places like the Broken Spoke are crucial touchpoints with our Texas culture, connecting us with our heritage and with each other," Abbott said. "We must remember the importance of our legendary Texas dancehalls and the culture, history and traditions they keep alive."

Austin City Council member Ryan Alter, Travis County Historical Commission chair Bob Ward, Broken Spoke general manager Ginny White-Peacock, Texas Music Hall of Famer Monte Warden and more all joined Abbott for the dedication ceremony.

"In 1964, Austin native James M. White (1939-2021) opened a new dance hall and restaurant south of the city limits at a former lumberyard on South Lamar," the plaque reads. "It was designed in the style of a traditional honky tonk, and patrons danced to jukebox records and live bands on weekends."

'The Don of Dancehalls is gone': Musicians, artists remember Broken Spoke owner James White

"The Broken Spoke was so popular that White enlarged the facility with a dance hall and stage," the plaque continues. "White hired local bands from all over the Austin area, and soon country music legends like Bob Wills, Ernest Tubb, Tex Ritter and Kitty Wells played here. Performances by continuing generations of musicians and appearances in movies, songs, music videos and travel articles helped to make the Broken Spoke a cultural treasure."

The Austin City Council urged Broken Spoke's municipal historic status in early November when it approved a resolution that would “provide permanent protection to the structure and the operations of the venue.” The resolution went on to argue for the dance hall's distinction by saying "many of Austin’s creative spaces continue to be lost or displaced due to Austin’s continuing real estate boom, resulting in the loss of some of Austin’s most significant creative cultural incubators and unique Austin character."

In addition to the famous performers listed on the plaque, Broken Spoke has hosted George Strait, Dolly Parton, Dale Watson and more. Founder James White even hired Willie Nelson in 1967 for just $800.

White died in 2021 at age 81 of congestive heart failure.

This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Broken Spoke dance hall has its official Texas Historical Marker