Drag (Austin, Texas)

A spontaneous celebration on the drag after a Longhorns victory over Ohio State University.

A portion of The Drag, as seen at night.

The Drag is a nickname for a portion of Guadalupe Street that runs along the western edge of the University of Texas campus in Austin, Texas.

The Drag began as a strip of shops which provided vital resources to UT students. Bookstores, restaurants, and clothing stores fulfilled student needs. The proximity to campus, particularly the Main Building and the Union Building, added to the popularity of the street.^[1] At the start of each semester The Drag fills with students purchasing textbooks and school supplies.

Past and present buildings on the Drag include the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, Raul's, Captain Quackenbush's Intergalactic Espresso and Dessert Company, Record Exchange (later renamed CD Exchange at the NW corner of 21st Street), Hastings Music and Video (directly across from the West Mall and Student Union), Bevo's Bookstore, The Gap (at the SW corner of 24th Street), Al's Formalwear (at 29 1/2 Street), Tower Records, The Bazaar, Texadelphia, Dobie Mall, Goodall Wooten private dormitory, and the University Baptist Church. Also, the Church of Scientology of Texas building is on The Drag.^[2]

The Drag is considered an important part of Austin's civic life, but for many years many Austinites avoided it because of congestion. The area had fallen into disrepair, and some felt the area had become undesirable because of the presence of panhandlers known as "Dragworms",^[3] or more recently as "Dragrats."^[4]

Recently the west side of the Drag between 21st and 24th has been reconfigured in preparation for Capital MetroRapid bus rapid transit service in 2014.

References

Further reading

• Don, Massa (Jul–Aug 1987). "Drag Lines". The Alcalde 75 (6): 4–7. ISSN 1535-993X. 

External links

• UT and the Drag travel guide from Wikivoyage
• Guadalupe Street, Guide to Texas Outside. Photos from the history of Guadalupe Street.

The University of Texas at Austin Academics School of Architecture Cockrell School of Engineering Moody College of Communication (Department of Radio-Television-Film) College of Fine Arts (Sarah and Ernest Butler School of Music) College of Liberal Arts Graduate School Jackson School of Geosciences School of Law LBJ School of Public Affairs McCombs School of Business College of Natural Sciences School of Information Research Américo Paredes Center for Cultural Studies Center for Community College Student Engagement The Center for Complex Quantum Systems RGK Center for Philanthropy and Community Service Robert S. Strauss Center for International Security and Law Texas Advanced Computing Center Athletics Football Baseball Men's basketball Women's basketball Swimming & Diving Volleyball Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium Erwin Special Events Center UFCU Disch–Falk Field Myers Stadium McCombs Field Gregory Gymnasium Jamail Texas Swimming Center Lone Star Showdown Campus Battle Hall Batts Hall Benedict Hall Blanton Museum of Art Calhoun Hall Flawn Academic Center Garrison Hall Goldsmith Hall Harry Ransom Center J. Frank Dobie House Pickle Research Campus Jester Center Littlefield Fountain Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center Landmarks (Public art collection) Los Angeles Center LBJ Library and Museum Main Building ("The Tower") McDonald Observatory Performing Arts Center Perry–Castañeda Library Sutton Hall Texas Memorial Museum Union Building Welch Hall History History of UT Austin Stephen F. Austin Constitution of 1876 Fisher v. University of Texas Hopwood v. Texas Sweatt v. Painter Tower shooting People Alumni Faculty Presidents Texas Exes (New York Chapter) Friar Society Tejas Club Traditions Bevo The Eyes of Texas Hex Rally Hook 'em Horns Hook 'em (mascot) Texas Cowboys Texas Fight World's Largest Texas Flag Student life Fraternities and Sororities The Drag Hook 'em Horns Media Longhorn Network Texas Student Media (KVRX-FM, Texas Student Television, Texas Travesty, The Daily Texan)

Coordinates: 30°17′9″N 97°44′30″W / 30.28583°N 97.74167°W / 30.28583; -97.74167