Texas Historical Commission history

1963 The legislature expanded the mandate of the Survey Committee with legal authority to preserve and protect the heritage of Texas.

A variety of tools to protect and designate historic properties and resources is available, depending on the type of resource and the specific designation sought. For example, the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 requires that federal agencies consult with the THC prior to undertaking projects that may impact properties listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in Texas.

1971 The legislature granted the Bonham home of Sam Rayburn to the Survey Committee to preserve and manage as a public museum.

1980 An amendment to the National Historic Preservation Act created the Certified Local Government Program, administered by the THC for the State of Texas.

1984 The Texas Archeological Stewardship Network, a statewide group of volunteer avocational archeologists, was created to help the Texas Historical Commission’s small staff of archeologists with the preservation of the state’s archeological resources.

1991 The Galveston Historical Foundation was the first recipient of the THC's most prestigious award, the Governor's Award for Historic Preservation.

1995 THC archeologists discovered the La Salle shipwreck off the Texas coast and a special appropriation of $1.7 million was awarded to the agency to support costs of the shipwreck recovery.

1997 An electrical fire at the Sam Rayburn House Museum, the only historic structure administered by the THC outside of Austin at that time, caused extensive structural and smoke damage.

In 1999, the THC commissioned a study (a collaboration between Rutgers University and the University of Texas at Austin) that quantified the economic contributions of historic preservation in Texas.

2002 The THC received $4.3 million from the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) through the Texas Department of Transportation to continue the Texas Heritage Trails Program.

2005 President George W. Bush awarded the Texas Heritage Trails Program the Preserve America Presidential Award.

2008 The THC mobilized services to Galveston and other Gulf communities impacted by Hurricane Ike.

2010 The THC received a $1 million appropriation of federal stimulus money to enable the restoration of the Presidio San Saba in Menard.

2012 The agency completed 44 capital projects at state historic sites, including restoration and maintenance of historic buildings, new or improved visitor centers and maintenance facilities, and interpretive exhibits.

April 2015 The agency launched its first mobile app: African Americans in Texas.