Friends of the Texas Historical Commission

Protecting historic sites across the State - The Texas Historical Commission preserves and operates 36 historic sites throughout the state. The Organization supports the preservation of these sites and helps raise the funds and awareness to make preservation, restoration, and interpretation possible. The Organization secured philanthropic support for the THC acquisition of a critical 50-acre parcel of land adjacent to the San Jacinto Battleground; worked on archaeological master plans for the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site and Almonte Surrender Site; created the THC Virtual Learning Portal and mobile app; began capital improvements at the Eisenhower Birthplace State Historic Site; and acquired two properties adjacent to the Bush Family Home State Historic Site and donated the properties to the THC.

Other projects to support the Texas Historical Commission's core mission of preservation, stewardship, and place-based, experiential learning. The Organization continues to work on projects that address core programmatic initiatives- enhancing the visitor experience through capital projects, creating education opportunities and resources for students and visitors, and building preservation capacity through stewardship.

2023 Annual Conference: Real Places: Preserving Texas History. The 2023 Annual Conference was presented in partnership with the Texas Historical Commission. The conference provided opportunities to learn from and network with professional staff, volunteers, and supporters of historic preservation and heritage tourism. Attendees included county historical commissions, Main Street managers and board members, historic preservation officers and design review boards, architects and engineers, historians, archaeologists, curators, interpreters, managers of museums and historic sites, as well as THC staff, Texas Heritage Trail Regions, and other partner agencies. The conference provides continuing education, exhibits of interest and networking through speakers and workshops.