Texas Historical Commission#Historical Markers

Established in 1953, the state legislature created the Texas State Historical Survey Committee to oversee state historical programs.{{Cite web|url=https://www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/texas-historical-commission|title = TSHA | Texas Historical Commission}} The legislature revised the agency's enabling statute to give it additional protective powers, expand its leadership role and educational responsibilities, and officially changed its name to the Texas Historical Commission (THC). In 2007, the legislature transferred the management of 20 state historic sites from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department to the THC.{{cite web |title=Agency Timeline |url=http://www.thc.state.tx.us/about-us/agency-timeline |website=www.thc.state.tx.us |publisher=Texas Historical Commission |access-date=27 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150418160439/http://www.thc.state.tx.us/about-us/agency-timeline |archive-date=April 18, 2015 |language=en-us |url-status=unfit}}

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Today, the agency employs about 350 personnel.{{Cite web |title=Texas Historical Commission {{!}} Texas Tribune Government Salaries Explorer |url=https://salaries.texastribune.org/departments/texas-historical-commission/ |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=The Texas Tribune |language=en}} The Texas Historical Commission leadership is composed of 15 members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate, serving overlapping six-year terms. All members must be citizens of Texas, and together represent all geographical areas of Texas.{{Cite web |title=Commission Members {{!}} Texas Historical Commission |url=https://thc.texas.gov/about/commission-members |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=thc.texas.gov |language=en}}

The commission also employs personnel in various fields, including archeology, architecture, economic development, heritage tourism, history, public administration and urban planning. These personnel consult with citizens and organizations to preserve Texas's architectural, archeological and cultural landmarks.

The agency includes the following divisions dedicated to overseeing the agency's programs:{{cite web |title=Our Divisions |url=http://www.thc.state.tx.us/about/our-divisions |website=www.thc.state.tx.us |publisher=Texas Historical Commission |access-date=27 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150419163522/http://www.thc.state.tx.us/about/our-divisions |archive-date=April 19, 2015 |language=en-us |url-status=unfit}}

• Administration
• Archeology
• Architecture
• Community Heritage Development
• Historic Sites
• History Programs
• Public Information and Education
• Staff Services

There are several boards associated with the Texas Historical Commission:

• The State Board of Review
• The Antiquities Advisory Board
• The Guardians of Texas Preservation Trust Fund
• The Advisory Board of the Texas Preservation Trust Fund
• The Main Street Interagency Council

File:Lake Creek Settlement Marker.jpg located in front of the N. H. Davis Museum and Pioneer Complex, 308 Liberty Street, Montgomery, Texas in the Texas Forest Trail region]]The Texas Historical Commission administers this statewide heritage tourism program.{{cite news|last=Karimi|first=Sabah|title=Heritage Tourism in Texas|url=http://traveltips.usatoday.com/heritage-tourism-texas-11931.html|access-date=5 December 2013|newspaper=USA Today}} This program is historically based in the ten scenic driving regions that Texas Department of Transportation and Gov. John Connally designated in 1968 in connection with the World's fair in San Antonio, Texas, called HemisFair '68. After the fair, these trails were all but forgotten. The Texas Historical Commission began its program based on these historical designations in 1998, starting with the Texas Forts Trail.{{cite news|last=Bluthardt|first=Bob|title=Trail offers more than forts|url=http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2012/sep/21/trail-offers-more-than-forts/?print=1|access-date=5 December 2013|newspaper=San Angelo Standard-Times|date=21 September 2012}} The goal of the program is to promote heritage tourism and historic preservation.

The THC divides Texas into 10 heritage regions:

• Texas Brazos Trail{{cite news|title=Brazos Trail Region to begin work as next Heritage Trail|url=http://www.tdtnews.com|access-date=5 December 2013|newspaper=Temple Daily Telegram|date=5 September 2002}}
• Texas Forest Trail
• Texas Forts Trail
• Texas Hill Country Trail
• Texas Independence Trail
• Texas Lakes Trail
• Texas Mountain Trail
• Texas Pecos Trail
• Texas Plains Trail{{cite news|last=Reynolds|first=John|title=Texas Plains Trail designated state's newest heritage trail|url=http://lubbockonline.com/stories/081303/loc_081303041.shtml|access-date=5 December 2013|newspaper=Lubbock Avalanche-Journal|date=13 August 2003}}
• Texas Tropical Trail

In 2005, the Heritage Trails Program won the Preserve America Presidential Award for exemplary accomplishment in the preservation and sustainable use of America's heritage assets, which has enhanced community life while honoring the nation's history.{{cite web|last=Milhans|first=Bruce|title=ACHP announces 2009 Preserve America Presidential Awards|url=http://preserveamerica.gov/papaawards09.html|work=Preserve America|publisher=preserveamerica.gov|access-date=5 December 2013}}

File:San felipe de austin shs 2007.jpg.]]

File:Union Station -- Houston.jpg

{{Main|List of Texas State Historic Sites}}

The Texas Historical Commission preserves and operates 41 state historic sites across Texas. These unique places honor the past and inspire an understanding of what it means to be a Texan. From American Indian sites to frontier forts to common and elegant homes and the leaders and statesmen who lived in them, these sites enrich people's lives through history.{{cite web |title=Eight New State Historic Sites Welcomed by Texas Historical Commission |url=https://www.thc.texas.gov/news-events/press-releases/eight-new-state-historic-sites-welcomed-texas-historical-commission |website=www.thc.texas.gov |publisher=Texas Historical Commission |access-date=27 April 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805053417/https://www.thc.texas.gov/news-events/press-releases/eight-new-state-historic-sites-welcomed-texas-historical-commission |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |language=en-us |url-status=live}}{{Cite web |title=Texas State Historic Sites {{!}} Texas Historical Commission |url=https://thc.texas.gov/historic-sites |access-date=2025-04-15 |website=thc.texas.gov |language=en}}

Fort Griffin is home to the official State of Texas Longhorn Herd.{{Cite web|url=https://www.thc.texas.gov/historic-sites/fort-griffin/history/legendary-longhorns|title=Official Texas Longhorn Herd of Texas| Fort Griffin State Historic Site | THC.Texas.Gov|website=www.thc.texas.gov}}

File:Anson Jones Texas Historical Commission Marker.JPG commemorating the many important contributions made by Republic of Texas President Anson Jones to the history of Texas.]]

Sponsors may apply for official historical markers through their county historical commissions. The purpose of the markers, which are available in a variety of types (cemetery, building, subject) and sizes, is to educate the public. An application must meet certain requirements to be approved by the THC commissioners as qualifying for a marker.

Beginning in November 2006, the Texas Historical Commission adopted a new marker program. The following are some of the major changes to the program:

• All applications are to be submitted electronically
• There is now an annual application deadline
• An application fee is required
• The inscription process has been reworked

As of 2007, there are over 13,000 Official Texas Historical Markers placed throughout the state. Texas has the most prolific state historical marker program in the United States.http://www.thc.state.tx.us/faqs/faqmad.html#why , Marker & Designation Frequently Asked Questions, Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved July 3, 2007.

{{main|Recorded Texas Historic Landmark}}

Recorded Texas Historic Landmark is the highest designation given by the Texas Historic Commission for significant structures in Texas.

The THC may designate certain locations as State Antiquities Landmarks provided that they are not located on federal lands. These locations may fall into one of two categories:

• Historic buildings which must also be listed on the National Register of Historic Places and which are publicly identified.
• Archeological sites, which may not necessarily have NRHP listing, and whose locations are not available to the general public in order to avoid vandalism.

Designation as a State Antiquities Landmark does not prohibit the destruction or modification of such a structure or location. Instead, the designation requires a permit for any modification subject to public review by the THC.{{cite web|title=State Antiquities Landmarks|url=http://www.thc.texas.gov/preserve/projects-and-programs/state-antiquities-landmarks|author=Staff|publisher=Texas Historical Commission|date=July 8, 2016|access-date=August 6, 2016}}

The commission has main offices in the Austin Complex in downtown Austin; the complex includes the Carrington-Covert House at 1511 Colorado Street, Luther Hall, Gethsemane Lutheran Church, Elrose Building, and the Christianson-Leberman Building."[http://www.thc.state.tx.us/contactus/cotpdf/THCmap.pdf Texas Historical Commission Austin Complex] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090106220434/http://www.thc.state.tx.us/contactus/cotpdf/THCmap.pdf |date=2009-01-06 }}." Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved on March 6, 2009."[http://www.thc.state.tx.us/contactus/cotdefault.shtml Contact Us]." Texas Historical Commission. Retrieved on March 6, 2009.

The Carrington-Covert House was turned over to the commission to serve as the agency's headquarters in 1971. Gethsemane Lutheran Church was restored to serve as offices of the agency in 1970 and 1971."[http://www.utexas.edu/cola/depts/germanic/_files/pdf/community/10Kwalk.pdf A 10K Walk Through German-Texas Heritage in Austin, Texas]." The University of Texas at Austin. 3/6. Retrieved on November 15, 2009.

Incorporated in 1996, the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission (FTHC) is a 501c(3) tax exempt nonprofit organization, further designated as a 509(a)(1) and 170(b)(1)(A0(vi) Public Charity, whose purpose is to develop private philanthropic resources to assist the Texas Historical Commission with its mission to identify, preserve, and protect our history—providing a lasting legacy for future generations. FTHC secures contributions to support the programs, projects, and activities of the Texas Historical Commission not provided for in the state budget. Despite its name, the Friends is not a membership organization.{{cite web |url=http://www.thcfriends.org/about/our-history |title=Our History | THC Friends |website=www.thcfriends.org |access-date=March 5, 2015}}

Over the past two decades, FTHC has helped secure more than $10 million to support THC projects and programs, including the 17th century La Belle shipwreck excavation in Matagorda Bay, the Fort St. Louis excavation, the Red River War Battle Sites Project, Texas in the Civil War and World War II Initiatives, the Texas Courthouse Stewardship Program, restoration of the Fulton Mansion, restoration of 23 historic Texas flags, and more.

{{Portal|History|Texas}}

• List of National Historic Landmarks in Texas
• National Register of Historic Places listings in Texas
• T. R. Fehrenbach Award
• List of historical societies in Texas

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• [http://thc.texas.gov/ Texas Historical Commission website]
• [http://www.thcfriends.org/ Friends of the Texas Historical Commission website]
• [http://www.thc.state.tx.us/medallion The Medallion webpage]
• [http://www.state.tx.us/ Texas Online]
• [http://atlas.thc.texas.gov/ Texas Historic Sites Atlas]
• Texas Historical Commission Social Media Sites
• [https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAF3XhlGKUdZHAMlICCH7pQ/ THC YouTube Channel]
• [https://www.facebook.com/TexasHistoricalCommission THC Facebook Page]
• [https://twitter.com/TxHistComm THC Twitter Page]

{{Texas History Navbox}}

{{State agencies of Texas}}

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Historical Commission, Texas

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Category:State history organizations of the United States

Category:1953 establishments in Texas

Category:Government agencies established in 1953