September 4, 2026
Mueller is more than a name. Take a look back at how our community came to be the beautiful home it is today.
When it comes to Mueller, the elephant in the room is usually how to pronounce it. The other question is usually something about it once being an airport. It’s one of those times where two things can be true at once, and the true story of Mueller is so much more interesting than mere pronunciation. So buckle your seatbelts and prepare for takeoff; this is going to be a bumpy flight.
A Long History
Our story begins 100 years ago at 508 East 16th Street, home of Robert Mueller, his wife Leona, and their three children. In 1926, Mueller, part of one of Austin’s earliest families, was elected to the City Commission as part of the “managerial ticket,” a group of businessmen focused on making city government more efficient.
Austin voters had recently adopted the City Manager-Commission form of government, which remains in place today. At their first meeting on July 1, 1926, the new commission created modern city departments and began reshaping Austin’s future. One of their first major initiatives was establishing the City Plan Commission, which would oversee a $4.2 million bond program to build streets, parks, schools, fire stations, utilities, and a municipal airport. Much of the vision behind Austin’s 1928 city plan can still be seen in today’s Mueller development.