March Newsletter
MARCH 11, 2026
PT NEWS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
2026 Most Endangered Places List Nominations Open Now
Preservation Texas is now accepting nominations for the 2026 Most Endangered Places (MEP) list! This year's list will be announced in May during National Historic Preservation Month. We are seeking nominations for significant historic sites threatened by demolition, neglect, inappropriate development, or other similar issues.
Since 2004, the MEP program has highlighted hundreds of threatened sites across Texas, bringing statewide attention to these places and helping mobilize support for their protection. In many cases, the designation has demonstrated the value of historic places to local stakeholders and contributed to successful preservation outcomes.
While Preservation Texas provides publicity for listed sites, each property nominated to the 2026 list must already have an organized group of advocates actively working toward its preservation.
Nominations are due Friday, April 17, 2026. To learn more and nominate an endangered place, visit preservationtexas.org/mep2026.
Pictured: The c. 1940 Fourth Street Church in Lampasas, included on the 2023 MEP list, is being restored by the Lampasas Heritage Foundation.
Preservation Texas Seeks Director of Development
Preservation Texas is seeking a Director of Developmentto lead our fundraising and mission-aligned marketing efforts. This individual will be responsible for the strategy and execution of individual giving, corporate partnerships, grants, memberships, planned giving, and leading an effort to initiate a capital campaign. Preservation Texas is currently based in San Marcos. The position can be remote, but would require residency in Central Texas (Austin, San Antonio, or surrounding areas) for regular onsite attendance at key meetings and events.
This full-time position requires five or more years of professional experience in nonprofit development, preferably in the history, museum, arts, or conservation fields in Texas. The ideal candidate will have a demonstrated track record of meeting or exceeding revenue targets, along with proven experience in planning and executing a capital campaign, with a focus on major gift solicitation and donor cultivation
Visit preservationtexas.org/news-blog/development to learn more and apply by March 31, 2026.
Applications Open for Preservation Texas Historic Rural Log Building Grant Program
PT is now accepting applications for our Historic Rural Log Building Grant Program, funded by a $750,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the National Park Service. Through this competitive program, we will award subgrants ranging from $50,000 to $150,000 to five to seven preservation projects involving historic, pre-1936 log buildings.
Eligible properties must be located in rural East Texas communities with populations under 10,000 or previously included on our Most Endangered Places list. Nonprofits, government entities, and private property owners are eligible to apply, but preference will be given to buildings that are, or will be, regularly open to the public. All grants require a 25 percent cash match and will be awarded on a reimbursement basis.
Applications are due by 5:00 p.m. CST on Friday, April 17, 2026. For program guidelines, eligibility requirements, and application information, visit preservationtexas.org/grants.
Call for Proposals: Historic Log Building Symposium - September 4, 2026 in Huntsville
Preservation Texas is convening a Historic Log Building Symposium at Sam Houston State University on September 4th to bridge the gap between field experience and technical research, working toward establishing the first Texas-specific best practices for the treatment of vernacular log buildings. The symposium will consist of working sessions aimed at producing a Texas Log Building Preservation Manual for property owners, tradespeople, and stewards of historic sites.
We are seeking proposals to present case study–based papers at the symposium that demonstrate what works, what fails, and why. Proposals should be grounded in real projects or documented research, and should clearly describe the methods used, the decision-making process, performance over time, and any measurable outcomes.
Selected participants will receive a $500 honorarium, and have the opportunity to contribute to a body of work that will help shape the preservation of historic log buildings in Texas for decades to come!
Visit preservationtexas.org/symposium to learn more and submit a proposal by Friday, May 15, 2026.
Pictured: Sam Houston’s Law Office building at the Sam Houston Memorial Museum in Huntsville.
PRESERVATION TEXAS INSTITUTE UPDATES
Restoration Begins at Louisiana Hall
Exterior repairs are now underway at Louisiana Hall, the 1914 former Westminster College dormitory at the Preservation Texas Institute in Tehuacana. The building’s wood siding and trim will receive much-needed repairs before being repainted. We’re pleased to be working with restoration carpenter Gerardo Gonzalez of Corsicana on this phase of the project.
Later this month, we will also host a window repair workshop at Louisiana Hall. Participants will learn the fundamentals of historic wood window repair while making a meaningful contribution to the building’s rehabilitation. The workshop is sold out at this time. To join the waitlist, visit preservationtexas.org/window-workshop.
Exhibit Coming Soon
In 2024, Preservation Texas acquired a significant selection of decorative arts from the Dallas County Heritage Society. These pieces were collected by the Society over a fifty-year period for display and study at Dallas Heritage Village in Old City Park. Following the Village’s closure in early 2024, Preservation Texas selected items to form the foundation of its own permanent Texana collection, ensuring that these artifacts of Texas craftsmanship remain in the public trust.
Concurrently with the development of the Preservation Texas Institute, Preservation Texas will continue to expand its collection of early Texas decorative arts. Once Texas Hall is fully restored, its galleries will showcase the furniture, textiles, pottery, and folk art of early Texans. In the meantime, a preview exhibit is scheduled to open in Louisiana Hall later this year.
Save the Date: Preservation Texas Institute Open House October 3, 2026
Mark your calendar and plan to join us in Tehuacana on Saturday, October 3 for an afternoon at the Preservation Texas Institute! Explore our historic campus, learn more about our work, and enjoy great food and live music while supporting our mission.
Visitors will have the opportunity to view our Handmade Texana exhibit, watch live heritage trades demonstrations, and take part in a variety of activities across the campus. More details will be announced soon.
PRESERVATION PROGRAMS
Last week, PT staff met with Emily and Linda Mathews of the San Augustine Legacy Group to review progress at the historic Lewis Railroad Hotel in San Augustine. Originally named to our Most Endangered Places list in 2012, the site has seen remarkable transformation. Our discussion focused on the significant milestones achieved so far and explored possibilities for its future use and interpretation. For decades the Recorded Texas Historic Landmark was the home of the Lewis family and a boarding house for African-Americans, particularly those working on the adjacent railroad line.
RETAIL PROGRAMS
Original Antique Prints Available on Etsy
Several more original 19th-century lithographs and engravings have been added to our Etsy shop. These prints were conveyed to Preservation Texas with the Bassett family estate in 2011, and have been sitting in storage untouched for many years. Every purchase directly supports our nonprofit mission! Visit etsy.com/shop/PreservationTexas to shop the collection
Books For Sale at West Texas Heritage Center in El Paso
A curated selection of books related to the unique history, culture, and architecture of El Paso and the greater West Texas region are now available for purchase at our West Texas Heritage Center at 201 E San Antonio Avenue in downtown El Paso. Stop by and visit us Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Preservation Texas members enjoy 20% off all merchandise!
STATEWIDE PRESERVATION NEWS
Welcoming Brent Leggs as the Next President and CEO of the National Trust
The Board of Trustees of the National Trust for Historic Preservation has unanimously elected Brent Leggs as its next President and CEO. A widely respected leader across sectors and a sought-after speaker and mentor, Leggs is a strong national voice for the power and impact of historic preservation in the United States. He currently serves as Executive Director of the African American Cultural Heritage Action Fund and as Strategic Advisor to the CEO of the National Trust. He will assume the new role on June 22, 2026.
2026 Real Places Conference - April 8-10 in Austin
Preservation Texas will be an exhibitor at the Texas Historical Commission's 10th annual Real Places Conference at the Renaissance Austin Hotel. This event brings together professionals and volunteers who make historic preservation happen in Texas. Attendees will enjoy the opportunity to network with and learn from County Historical Commissions, Main Street managers, historic preservation officers, design review boards, architects, engineers, historians, archeologists, curators, interpreters, educators, nonprofit staff, THC staff, Texas Heritage Trail Regions, and more.
We hope to see you there! To learn more and register, visit thcfriends.org/real-places-conference.
