Council Will Vote on Doris Miller Auditorium Landmark Status
The Austin City Council considers historic designation for the Rosewood Park facility this week.
Updated on Oct. 7, 2026 in Military
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The Austin City Council will hold a public hearing and vote this week on granting historic landmark status to the Doris Miller Auditorium in Rosewood Park. The 1944 facility, which originally served Black service members returning from World War II, stands as a local memorial to the U.S. Navy hero.
Why it matters
The proposed ordinance aims to protect the historic integrity of the site through a public historic landmark-neighborhood plan rezoning. The vote coincides with ongoing national discussions regarding the potential renaming of the USS Doris Miller aircraft carrier.
The auditorium was constructed in 1944 to serve Black service members returning from World War II. Senator Cory Booker has filed 3 bills to prevent the renaming of the USS Doris Miller, a process that is currently under consideration by the Navy.
The players
Doris Miller
A U.S. Navy cook and the first Black service member to receive the Naval Cross for his actions at Pearl Harbor.
Cory Booker
A U.S. Senator who has filed legislation to prevent the renaming of the USS Doris Miller aircraft carrier.
Austin City Council
The local governing body responsible for voting on the proposed historic designation of the auditorium.
Donald Trump
The current President of the United States who is being considered by the Navy as the namesake for the USS Doris Miller aircraft carrier.
The details
The council will conduct a public hearing followed by a vote on an ordinance to rezone the Rosewood Park property. If passed, the site will transition to a public historic landmark-neighborhood plan status. This legislative move follows the 2020 announcement by the U.S. Navy to name an aircraft carrier after the Waco-born sailor, who was the first Black service member to earn the Navy Cross.
Timeline
1944: The Doris Miller Auditorium was built in Rosewood Park.
2020: The U.S. Navy announced the naming of the USS Doris Miller.
October 8-14, 2026: The Austin City Council will vote on the historic landmark designation.
The Texas Context
The city's effort to preserve the local auditorium reflects a pushback against shifts in federal naming conventions for vessels. This local action contrasts with the uncertainty surrounding the Navy's consideration of renaming the carrier for President Donald Trump.
Residents living near Rosewood Park can participate in the public hearing this week before the council vote. The proposed rezoning will finalize the site's status as a public historic landmark-neighborhood plan.
The takeaway
The Doris Miller Auditorium remains a significant local monument to the Waco-born sailor's legacy. Austinites should monitor the council's vote this week to determine the long-term protections established for this East Austin site.
Further reading
Learn more about local connections to national service in our Military section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by KXAN.
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