Tribpedia: Texas Historical Commission

Tribpedia

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) oversees historic preservation of state facilities. The commission preserves Texas' architectural, archeological and cultural landmarks.

Since June 2008, the agency has worked to salvage the historic Governor's Mansion, which was ravaged by a fire set by an arsonist.

The THC has 17 citizen members appointed by the governor to staggered six-year terms. The agency ...

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Revitalizing the Alamo is Subject of Heated Debate

The Alamo Plaza Better Block event, held the weekend of Aug. 17, 2012, included a demonstration of recommendations by the Project for Public Spaces intended to make the Alamo area a destination for tourists and residents alike.
Enlarge photo by: Jennifer Whitney
The Alamo Plaza Better Block event, held the weekend of Aug. 17, 2012, included a demonstration of recommendations by the Project for Public Spaces intended to make the Alamo area a destination for tourists and residents alike.

In San Antonio, officials want to make Alamo Plaza more appealing to both tourists and residents, but there isn't a consensus on the best way to do that. Some want vendors and entertainment on the premises, but others say that would be disrespectful to the memory of the soldiers who fought and died for Texas' freedom.

Statues built as a tribute to Juneteenth for the Texas Capitol grounds sit weathering at the Deep In The Heart of Texas Art Foundry property.
Enlarge photo by: Callie Richmond
Statues built as a tribute to Juneteenth for the Texas Capitol grounds sit weathering at the Deep In The Heart of Texas Art Foundry property.

Juneteenth Project Stalls, and New Monument Emerges

A Juneteenth monument was built for the Capitol, but it won't be installed after all. Concerns were raised about the design of one of the statues as well as historical inaccuracies. A new monument is coming to the Capitol instead.

05/07/2012 Tribweek
Enlarge photo by: Allen Otto
05/07/2012 Tribweek

TribWeek: Top Texas News for the Week of 5/7/12

E. Smith interviews Dan Patrick about John Carona, Root on the race to replace Ron Paul, Batheja on a nest of open House seats in Tarrant County, Aguilar on a border brawl over a congressional seat in El Paso, Tan on the fight over Planned Parenthood in West Texas, Aaronson maps the holes in the state's health care provider network, M. Smith on who might be the next Texas education commissioner, Ramshaw on social media sabotage, Hamilton and Ramshaw on the reaction to news of job insecurity for UT-Austin's president and Grissom on a knickers-twisting historical marker: The best of our best content from May 7 to 11, 2012.

Karen Thompson of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) testifies at the House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism on the Alamo shrine April 6, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
Karen Thompson of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) testifies at the House Committee on Culture, Recreation and Tourism on the Alamo shrine April 6, 2011.

Daughters Gets Early Victory in Fight Over Alamo

  • by Christopher Smith Gonzalez
  • 1 Comment

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas would continue to be the caretakers of the Alamo, under a bill the House gave preliminary approval to this morning.

Patti Atkins, president of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, testifies before the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism about the Alamo shrine on April 6, 2011.
Enlarge photo by: Bob Daemmrich
Patti Atkins, president of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas, testifies before the House Committee on Culture, Recreation & Tourism about the Alamo shrine on April 6, 2011.

Fight Over Alamo Continues in the Capitol

  • by Christopher Smith Gonzalez
  • 4 Comments

The dust-up over who should be the steward of the Alamo continued into today's House Culture, Recreation & Tourism Committee, where three bills addressing the historic site were heard.

Ray Benson and his bands entertaining the crowds during Save Our Texas History rally.
Enlarge photo by: Muliadi Soenaryo
Ray Benson and his bands entertaining the crowds during Save Our Texas History rally.

Supporters Rally Around Texas Historical Commission

  • by Christopher Smith Gonzalez
  • 16 Comments

With the strum of a guitar and the whine of fiddle strings, Ray Benson and two other members of his band Asleep At The Wheel kicked off a rally Thursday to support the Texas Historical Commission, which faces deep budget cuts.

Cow John and Old Ruidoso by Robert Summers. On display at the White Horse Station, a coffeeshop, event space, and art gallery, in Clifton, Texas.
Enlarge photo by: Todd Wiseman
Cow John and Old Ruidoso by Robert Summers. On display at the White Horse Station, a coffeeshop, event space, and art gallery, in Clifton, Texas.

Perry: Defund Texas Arts, Historical Commissions

  • by Christopher Smith Gonzalez and Andrew Weber
  • 14 Comments

Gov. Rick Perry wants two state agencies — the Texas Commission on the Arts and the Texas Historical Commission — defunded because they don’t provide “mission-critical” services. But what do they do? 

Enlarge photo by: Todd Wiseman

Texas Study Stresses Economic Progress Through Art

Creative industries — from advertising to dance companies to book publishing — generate $4.5 billion per year in economic activity for Texas, according to a new report released by the Texas Cultural Trust in association with the Texas Commission on the Arts. The report features projects in communities like Amarillo, El Paso, Rockport, Texarkana and the tiny, north central Texas town of Clifton, population 3,795. “It’s more than fluff,” says Amy Barbee, the Trust's executive director. “We want to tell the story that the arts truly are economic development.”

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Preserving WWII Internment Sites in Texas

  • by Matt Largey
Sixty-nine years ago, the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor compelled the U.S. to join World War II — and led to the internment of thousands of Japanese, German and Italian Americans. As Matt Largey of KUT News reports, researchers are now trying to preserve and memorialize those sites in Texas.
Enlarge photo by: Sandi Halley

Courthouse Fixers Scramble for Funds

Since 1999, dozens of county courthouses — some dating to the 19th century — have been spruced up with the help of state funding, and workers have uncovered old artwork or other historic features. But advocates fear that the renovation program will be yet another casualty of the coming biennial budget shortfall.