Armadillo World Headquarters: The Crucible of Texas Cosmic Country

An armory becomes a music hall

Eddie Wilson and friends turned the cavernous old armory near Barton Springs Road and South First Street into a venue on a shoestring budget. It was rough around the edges, which suited its audience perfectly.

Everyone played there

The 'Dillo booked across genres: country, rock, blues, jazz and more. Willie Nelson's 1972 appearance is often cited as a turning point that showed country could draw the young crowd. Frank Zappa recorded there, and local acts including Jerry Jeff Walker and The Lost Gonzo Band were regulars.

The poster art

Artists including Jim Franklin, Micael Priest and Danny Garrett created handbills and posters that are now collector's items. Franklin's armadillos helped make the animal a symbol of the scene. Many examples are held in public collections — see our archives and museums guide.

The closing

Money troubles and the land's value caught up with the venue. Its final show on December 31, 1980 marked the end of an era. Eddie Wilson later told the story in his memoir, reviewed in our books guide.

Explore its neighbors in historic Austin honky-tonks, the culture it fostered in cosmic cowboy culture, and the big picture in the Austin scene.