2026 Annual Fund
Dear Friend of Preservation Texas,
From saving endangered historic landmarks to empowering communities with hands-on skills, 2026 has been a transformative year for Preservation Texas. As we look ahead to 2027, we invite you to invest in this momentum by making a tax-deductible gift to our 2026 Annual Fund Campaign.
Together, we are delivering on our mission to serve as the statewide voice for Texas's historic resources. Here are some highlights of what your support made possible this year:
A New Home for Preservation Education: We recently marked the one-year anniversary of acquiring the historic Trinity University / Westminster College campus in Tehuacana. Hundreds joined us for our inaugural College Hill Festival, coordinated by Samantha Hunick and connecting local neighbors and supporters to this inspiring site. The development of the Preservation Texas Institute here will be organizationally transformative by empowering Texans to steward, advocate for, and appreciate our shared historic resources.
Statewide Summits & Hands-On Training: We hosted informative regional summits in El Paso, New Braunfels, and Huntsville. Expanding our partnership with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), Conor Herterich has organized upcoming hands-on workshops at Hueco Tanks State Park (November 2026) and Fort Parker State Park (March 2027). TPWD is also actively using our Bassett Farms Conservancy property for training and meetings, deepening the connection between natural and historic resource conservation.
Expanded Preservation Services: Through fee-for-service expertise offered to local governments and small non-profits, our team led by Jesús Najar completed planning projects in El Paso, San Marcos, and Sierra Blanca, with upcoming historic resource surveys in Denison, Palacios, and Socorro scheduled to begin this fall.
Building Our Texana Collections: We continue building our collection of early Texas furniture, stoneware, and textiles, alongside book donations for the future Texana Library in Texas Hall at Tehuacana. Highlights include rare 19th-century pieces by German-Texan craftsmen Franz Stautzenberger, Johann Jahn, and Bernhard Romberg, as well as generous book collections from Baylor University and the Johnson County Historical Commission. These books and artifacts will anchor future research programs at the Preservation Texas Institute, and we welcome your donations to help this collection thrive.
Major Grant Funding Secured: We secured a $750,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant to restore early Texas log and timber-framed structures. Coming on the heels of our $750,000 grant program for endangered rural African-American historic sites, this funding allows us to partner with public and private owners to save irreplaceable structures.
Growing Impact in West Texas: Our West Texas Heritage Center in El Paso welcomed two new team members, Steve Swinski and Alejandra Maese-Mora, bringing expertise in communications, museums, and cultural resource management. Looking ahead, El Paso will play host to the 2027 Southeastern Society of Architectural Historians conference, introducing a national audience to West Texas architecture.
Advocacy at the State Capitol: With the 2027 Texas Legislative session right around the corner, we are gearing up to host our 2027 Honor Awards alongside Preservation Day at the Capitol in mid-February, ensuring state leaders understand the cultural and economic power of historic preservation.
Every historic building saved, every craftsman trained, and every community empowered starts with advocates like you. Won’t you join our Board of Directors by contributing to the 2026 Annual Fund today?
A gift of any amount directly powers our work and secures an even brighter future for Texas heritage in 2027 and beyond. Thank you for your partnership and dedication to Texas history.
Visit https://pt.app.neoncrm.com/forms/2026-annual-fund to donate online now!
