When the president-elect of the Texas Republic set out to hunt buffalo in the fall of 1838, he returned home with a much greater catch: a home for the new capital. Mirabeau B. Lamar had fallen in love with a tiny settlement surrounded by rolling hills and fed by cool springs, and within a year, he had brought the entire government there by oxcart, named the place, and set aside 40 acres for a "university of the first class." Over the next 200 years, many others-including Lyndon Johnson and Willie Nelson-would place their distinctive stamps on Austin. Today, Austin's homes reflect both the traditional Southwestern influence and modern Texas elegance. And with roots buried deep in the past, the city appeals on almost every level, from its thriving music scene to its high-tech economy, from its political power to its natural beauty.