Austin College was established in 1849 and its two-story building constructed from 1851 to 1852. Sam Houston and Anson Jones, past presidents of the former Republic of Texas, were charter members of the Austin College Board of Trustees. In 1855, Austin College housed the first law school in Texas.

In 1876, Austin College moved to Sherman, Texas, due to the economic declines it faced during the Civil War, Reconstruction, and the yellow fever epidemic of 1876.

Standford Gibbs and fellow businessmen purchased the Austin College property to donate to the state in 1876.

Mitchell College was established in 1877 in the vacated Austin College Building, which the Methodist Church had purchased for $1,000, intending to use it as a school for boys. The effort failed within a year and it was sold back to the city of Huntsville.

On April 21, 1879, Sam Houston Normal Institute was established with one building: the Austin College Building, which came to be known as Austin Hall. A third floor of Austin Hall was added as a result of a lack of space, with construction completed on it in 1882. The third floor housed the library and classrooms. Due to a leaky roof, the third floor was eventually removed in 1927, but a portico facing south was added in its place. Please note this postcard shows Austin Hall with three stories.

Austin Hall was considered the social area of SHNI and SHSTC until 1950 when the Student Union Building was constructed.

In 1964, Austin Hall was recognized as a Texas Historic Landmark, and on January 2, 2013, it was named to the National Register of Historic Places.

When Old Main burned down on February 12, 1982, Austin Hall received severe roof damage from the fire but remained intact. The Hall was restored and rededicated in October 1986.

Fall of 2011 marked the beginning of the restoration process for the Hall through donations from the Houston Endowment Inc., The Brown Foundation, The Elkins Foundation, alumni, and local businesses. The cost for the restoration was $2.2 million, which included floor refinishing, new electrical and plumbing systems, a cupola, masonry work, and roof and shutter restoration. The restoration finished in 2012, and on October 12, a re-dedication ceremony was held.

Austin Hall is currently open and used for special university events.