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The Southgate–Lewis House is located one mile east of the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas, at 1501 East 12th Street. The house was constructed in 1888, and now stands as an African-American historical landmark. It is also a repository for African-American History and Culture in the region of east Austin, which historically became an African-American neighborhood. The City of Austin has now declared this region to be "Austin's Black Cultural District." The Southgate–Lewis House is located in the center of the "African American Cultural Heritage District".[2][3][4]

The Southgate–Lewis House was constructed by the builder Robert C. Lambie in 1888, as the residence for the publisher and bookbinder John Southgate, whose business was located on Congress Avenue, next door to the Lundberg Bakery. In its area it is notable for its period, scale, and complexity. Its restored late Victorian house style is unique among local simple vernacular buildings.

The Charles M. Lewis family owned the house from 1913 to 1979. Following the death of Marguerite Mae Dee Lewis in 1970, the house was abandoned for nearly a decade. The house fell into decline, and because it became a danger to the community, the house was scheduled for demolition. However, the house was saved one week before demolition and then restored for the purpose of preservation.[5]

The Southgate–Lewis House is now a city, state, and national historic landmark. In 1986, the house was presented to the W. H. Passon Historical Society as a gift, by a professor at The University of Texas at Austin.[6] The objective of the W. H. Passon Historical Society is to secure and preserve materials and artifacts related to Black culture, in Austin and Travis County.[7]