November 9, 2026
HERITAGE TRADES PROGRAMS
Later this week, Preservation Texas is hosting a hands-on masonry preservation workshop at the historic Escontrias Ranch site at Hueco Tanks State Park near El Paso. Organized by Conor Herterich in partnership with the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department, the workshop will focus on historic stone masonry assessment, stabilization, and traditional construction techniques.
Led by experts from Cornerstones Community Partnerships, the three-day workshop will give participants hands-on experience with dry-stack and earthen-mortar construction as they help stabilize and rebuild sections of ruined walls at the Escontrias homestead. Participants will also learn how to assess historic adobe buildings, including techniques for identifying cracking patterns, testing for moisture, and analyzing soil composition.
Registration is $300 per person, with a 10% discount for current Preservation Texas members. Space is limited to 15 public participants, who will work and train alongside 15 Texas Parks & Wildlife staff members throughout the workshop. Spots are still available!
Visit preservationtexas.org/masonry to view the full workshop agenda and register today!
PRESERVATION SERVICES UPDATES
Preservation Texas Hired to Conduct Historic Resources Surveys in Denison and Palacios
We are currently under contract to conduct historic resources surveys in Denison and Palacios, both funded in part by Certified Local Government grants from the Texas Historical Commission (THC). The team, led by Jesús Najar, has begun preliminary research and is consulting with the THC’s Survey Program to ensure the projects meet current documentation standards.
Intersection of N Rusk Ave and W Woodard St in Downtown Denison.
In Denison, Preservation Texas was selected through a competitive Request for Proposals process to survey the downtown Commercial Historic District (reconnaissance) and three residential neighborhoods (windshield). The project will build upon previous survey work, reevaluate the commercial district, listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1983, and document the three neighborhoods for the first time. The survey will help the city identify historic properties that may merit preservation protections amid increasing development pressures, as well as additional buildings that may qualify for inclusion in the district as they reach the 50-year age threshold for historic designation and related incentives.
Pictured above: S Bay Blvd in Palacios on Matagorda Bay.
In Palacios, Preservation Texas was hired by the Palacios Preservation Association (PPA) to conduct the community’s first citywide historic resources survey (reconnaissance). Following the successful effort to save the Luther Hotel from demolition, the PPA’s goal is to identify and document the community’s other historic buildings, laying the groundwork for potential future historic districts and individual designations.
Documenting the Simon Peter Hawkins House in Burkburnett
Last week, Preservation Texas staff and Board President Willis Winters visited Burkburnett in Wichita County to document the Simon Peter Hawkins House, which was included on our 2026 Most Endangered Places list. The team recorded the building’s existing conditions and will prepare measured drawings and a report outlining recommendations for its treatment. This work will support the Burkburnett Historical Society’s efforts to relocate the house to the downtown area, protecting it from the threat of encroaching industrial development.
NEWS & REPORTS
Advocacy Alert
A U.S. Senate vote scheduled for November 9 could significantly weaken Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and put historic buildings, archaeological sites, and culturally significant places across Texas and the nation at risk.
The proposed Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (S. 5653) includes a provision that would undermine Section 106, which for 60 years has required federal agencies to consider the impacts of their projects on historic properties and consult with Tribal Nations, preservation organizations, and local communities. It is also the only real protection afforded to buildings listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
If enacted, this provision would allow federal agencies to bypass preservation reviews, limit public input, and make it easier for historic properties to be damaged or destroyed without meaningful oversight.
TAKE ACTION: Contact our U.S. Senators, John Cornyn and Ted Cruz, and Governor Greg Abbott. Urge them to vote NO on S. 5653 as written, letting them know that Division B, Title III, Section 2301 dismantles the balanced, predictable, and effective Section 106 framework that protects Texas’s historic resources from overreaching federal projects.
El Paso "Wrecking Ball Massacre Tour"
In partnership with AIA El Paso and Women in Architecture, West Texas Heritage Center Director Steve Siwinski organized an evening walking tour on October 29 exploring the haunting history of historic building demolitions in downtown El Paso. Nearly 30 participants joined the tour to learn about the significant buildings that once lined downtown streets before gathering for a “wake” reception at the Heritage Center to reflect on the lasting impact of their loss.
SAVE THE DATE
Honor Awards Ceremony - February 16, 2027
Preservation Texas’s biennial Honor Awards recognize outstanding individuals in the preservation field, as well as exceptional preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, and reconstruction projects from across the state. The nomination period for the 2027 Honor Awards has closed. A jury will review all submissions, and nominators will be notified of the results in early December.
The 2027 Honor Awards Ceremony will be held at the State Theatre in Austin on the evening of Tuesday, February 16. This event will be free and open to all current Preservation Texas members, and will also serve as our annual membership meeting. If you aren't already a member, join or renew your membership today and plan to celebrate with us in Austin in February! Further details will be announced soon.
Preservation Day at the Capitol - February 17, 2027
Preservation Day at the Capitol will take place the day after the Honor Awards ceremony, Wednesday, February 17, and is also free for Preservation Texas members. Make a trip of it! Stay overnight in Austin and join us at the Capitol to meet with state representatives and advocate for historic preservation legislation in Texas. Further information coming soon.
2025 Preservation Day at the Capitol Participants
RETAIL SERVICES
A dozen additional original 19th-century orchid prints have been added to our online Etsy shop! We also have a variety of other botanical and natural history illustrations, along with vintage treasures donated to Preservation Texas available for sale. Every purchase directly supports our nonprofit mission.
Visit etsy.com/shop/preservationtexas to explore the latest additions and browse our collection.
2026 ANNUAL FUND CAMPAIGN
From saving endangered historic landmarks to empowering communities with hands-on skills, 2026 has been a transformative year for Preservation Texas. As we look to the year ahead, we invite you to invest in this momentum by making a tax-deductible gift to our 2026 Annual Fund Campaign. A gift of any amount directly powers our work and secures an even brighter future for Texas heritage in 2027 and beyond!
