The words “Texas barbecue” stir up passionate opinions. Texans love to debate which region prepares the most authentic barbecue, which pitmasters have the best cooking techniques, and where people can experience the perfect slice of brisket.
But have you ever thought about the history of preparing smoked meats in Texas? Why are pickles and onions served on the side? Why is beef a standard of Texas barbecue? Why do sauces taste different throughout the state? Tuck your napkin in your shirt and delve into our article about the history of Texas barbecue.
As our State Historic Sites continue to reopen, we encourage social distancing and other best practices to avoid spreading the coronavirus. Some sites are requiring reservations to be made over the phone in advance prior to visiting.
Our site safety guidelines include requiring visitors to wear face coverings when entering buildings to protect staff and other visitors, maintaining a six-foot distance from individuals outside their party, and not gathering in groups larger than five outside of the same household.
As families continue to educate students from home and prepare to keep children entertained during the summer, the Texas Historical Commission is providing free instructive resources about Texas history, preservation, and heritage tourism as an alternative to visiting a historic site.
Our Texas History at Home page encourages families to explore activities that include: downloadable coloring sheets for children, educational video playlists on our YouTube channel, and mobile tours highlighting the Texas Revolution, Chisholm Trail, Texas military history, and more. Explore the history of the Texas Revolution and share Texas History at Home.
A community’s lasting legacy is often found in a cemetery. But how can something so endearing disappear? Unfortunately, thousands of Texas cemeteries suffer from unintentional neglect. One of them—Camptown Cemetery in Brenham—disappeared from the public record, with weeds and shrubs burying the grave markers for decades.
Several years ago, a group of local descendants and church members worked with the Washington County Historical Commission to designate the land as a Historic Texas Cemetery.
The THC’s Cemetery Preservation Program administers the designation and offers assistance to concerned citizens and local organizations.
 Imagine the Possibilities with Texas Main Streets
The THC's Texas Main Street Program and Town Square Initiative are again hosting the Imagine the Possibilities Tours, but they will be virtual this year and held throughout the summer and fall.
The tours showcase available properties in cities across Texas as a way to engage potential investors, entrepreneurs, developers, residents, and anyone else who has imagined themselves running a business, owning a building, or living downtown. The Imagine the Possibilities Tours bring to life one of the THC’s initiatives, DowntownTX.org.
Launched with four pilot cities in 2017, DowntownTX.org connects interested investors with properties that are listed or potentially eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Upcoming “tours” will be held online and will be posted on the THC’s Imagine the Possibilities webpage.
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As we adjust to the new normal of the COVID-19 pandemic, we wanted to let you know that Real Places 2021 is going to be different. As a community that believes in learning from history, we plan to do just that—by continuing to bring you the high level of educational content you have come to expect of Real Places, but in an online format for 2021.
We are working to bring everyone back together for an in-person conference in February 2022. As we take some time to iron out the details, please watch for an online Real Places event February 3–5, 2021.
Also, please continue to submit proposals for sessions—we have extended the deadline to June 1 to allow more time given delays caused by stay-at-home orders and to allow people time to rethink their proposal if it would be different presented online rather than in person.
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