One of the University's most visible features is its Main Building [12] , including a 307-foot tower completed in 1937, located in the middle of campus and gracing Austin's downtown skyline. Although city law prohibits buildings to be taller from ground to top than the Texas State Capitol, the Main Building is on higher ground, making its top higher above sea level than the Capitol.

The tower is normally lit in white light, but is lit orange for various occasions, including athletic victories and academic accomplishments, such as commencement. The tower is darkened for solemn occasions. [13] 

At the top of the tower is a carillon of 56 bells, the largest in Texas. Songs are played every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday at 12:50 pm local time by resident carilloneur Tom Anderson, in addition to the usual pealing of the bells every quarter hour.

On August 1, 1966, Charles Whitman barricaded himself in the observation deck of the tower with a sniper rifle and other weapons, killed 14 Austin residents, and wounded more. The observation deck was closed until 1968, and then closed again in 1975 following a series of suicide jumps during the 1970s.

In 1998, after installation of security and safety precautions, the tower observation deck reopened to the public. It is surrounded by a protective metal grid to impede jumpers, and is only open on the weekends when the offices in the tower are not open. Visitors must pass through a metal detector and are accompanied by police while on the observation deck.