October Newsletter
OCTOBER 5, 2026
ORGANIZATIONAL NEWS
Welcoming Alejandra Maese-Mora as West Texas Heritage Center Associate
Preservation Texas has hired Alejandra Maese-Mora as the new West Texas Heritage Center Associate! Alejandra is a bicultural, bilingual Mexican-American archaeologist whose work focuses on collections care, exhibition development, and the interpretation of material culture. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in Anthropology with an emphasis in Museum Studies at New Mexico State University.
With an undergraduate degree in archaeology and experience working at the Museo de Arqueología e Historia de El Chamizal in Ciudad Juárez, Alejandra brings valuable expertise to the organization. Under the direction of West Texas Heritage Center Director Stephen Siwinski, she will support daily operations at the Center, assist with public programs and exhibit preparation, and engage with diverse audiences in El Paso and beyond.
Northeast Texas Regional Office Opens Physical Location in Tyler
Preservation Texas's Northeast Texas Regional Office now has a physical location in downtown Tyler! The office is located in the 1932 People’s Petroleum Building at 102 N. College Avenue, Suite 509, and is staffed by Conor Herterich, Director of Heritage Trades Programs. After working from home for nearly four years, Conor is excited to finally have a dedicated office space and place to host visitors.
We’re grateful to Andy Bergfeld and Garnett Brookshire for their support and for helping make this new space possible. We look forward to growing our presence and expanding our programming in Tyler and throughout Northeast Texas.
People's Petroleum Building lobby.
Preservation Texas to Host 2027 SESAH Conference in El Paso
Preservation Texas developed and proposed the idea of bringing the Southeast Chapter of the Society of Architectural Historians (SESAH) annual conference to El Paso in 2027. We’re excited to announce that SESAH accepted our concept, and the conference will be held September 29–October 2, 2027.
SESAH’s mission is to promote scholarship on architecture and related subjects and to serve as a forum for ideas among architectural historians, architects, preservationists, and others involved in the built environment.
Preservation Texas's Director of Architectural Programs Jesús Najar has attended the past three annual SESAH conferences. Last week, he traveled to Savannah, Georgia, for the 2026 conference, where he presented to the SESAH Board of Directors and promoted El Paso as next year’s conference destination.
We look forward to bringing this event back to Texas for the first time in more than a decade—and to El Paso for the first time ever—and showcasing the city’s remarkable architectural heritage. Further details coming soon.
Apply to Join the Board of Directors of Preservation Texas
Preservation Texas is seeking motivated individuals from across Texas with a background or interest in historic preservation to join our volunteer Board of Directors.
Board members attend quarterly meetings at historic locations throughout the state, make an annual financial commitment of at least $2,000, and serve on at least one committee. Board members serve three-year terms. Learn more and apply at preservationtexas.org/join.
Apply by Thursday, October 8, to have your application considered by the Board of Directors at their last meeting of the year on October 9.
PROGRAM UPDATES
Historic Timber-Framed Buildings Now Eligible for Preservation Texas Grant Program
Preservation Texas has expanded its previously announced Historic Rural Log Building Grant Program to include historic timber-framed buildings. The Historic Rural Log & Timber Framed Building Grant Program will fund preservation projects involving pre-1940 log buildings and 19th-century structures principally framed with hand-hewn timbers, including barns and tabernacles. Buildings retaining more original hand-hewn structural members will receive priority.
Made possible by a $750,000 Paul Bruhn Historic Revitalization Grant from the National Park Service, Preservation Texas will award $50,000–$150,000 subgrants to five to seven projects in rural Texas communities with populations under 50,000.
We are accepting applications now!
Nonprofits, government entities, and private property owners are eligible to apply. Projects must be listed on or eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and provide a 25% cash match. Learn more about eligibility, program guidelines, and how to apply at preservationtexas.org/grants.
For questions, please email Conor Herterich at conor@preservationtexas.org.
Preservation Texas welcomes nominations for the 2027 Honor Awards, which will recognize outstanding individuals in the field of preservation, as well as recent historic preservation, restoration, rehabilitation, reconstruction, and infill projects from across the state.
Detailed information about award categories and application instructions can be found at preservationtexas.org/honorawards. The nomination deadline is Friday, October 16, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. CST.
The 2027 Honor Awards will be presented at the State Theatre in Austin on the evening of February 16, ahead of our Preservation Day at the Capitol.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Join us in Tehuacana this Saturday, October 10, for the first annual College Hill Festival! Spend the day exploring the historic campus, and learn about our one-of-a-kind vision for the future Preservation Texas Institute.
This event is free and open to the public. Visitors will be asked to sign a liability waiver before entering the campus grounds (103 College Ave).
Festival Highlights Include:
Rummage sale featuring a huge selection of furniture, dishes, artwork, and other bargains
Exhibitor booths including the B-RI Railroad Museum, Camp Hearne Historical Site & Exhibit, Fort Parker State Park, Freestone County Historical Commission & Museum, Limestone County Historical Commission & Museum, Preservation Texas, Tehuacana Heritage Society, and the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes
Tehuacana history & handmade Texana exhibits
Vintage tractors and trucks display
Live timber hewing & limestone-working demonstrations
Authentic chuck wagon from the 6666 Ranch
On-site food trucks
Live bluegrass music by Wilson and Wilson Music
Language & history presentation by the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes
Preservation Texas Institute & Save Texas Hall merchandise
Learn more and view the full festival schedule at savetexashall.org/festival. We hope to see you there!
Registration is Open: Hands-On Historic Masonry Preservation Workshop at Hueco Tanks State Park
November 11-14, 2026 | El Paso
Join Preservation Texas and the Texas Parks & Wildlife Department for a hands-on workshop focused on historic stone masonry assessment, stabilization, and traditional construction techniques.
Located just outside El Paso, Hueco Tanks State Park is known for its Indigenous history, dramatic desert landscapes, and world-class rock climbing. Its natural rock basins, or huecos, have provided water and shelter for thousands of years, leaving behind a remarkable collection of pictographs and petroglyphs. The site was also once home to the Escontrias ranch, established in 1898.
The three-day workshop will be led by experts from Cornerstones Community Partnerships. Participants will learn about dry-stack and earthen-mortar construction while helping stabilize and rebuild sections of ruined walls at the Escontrias homestead. The workshop will also include a module on assessing historic adobe buildings, covering topics such as diagnosing cracking patterns, moisture testing, and soil analysis.
Registration is $300 per person, with a 10% discount for current Preservation Texas members. Space is limited to 15 public participants who will train alongside 15 Texas Parks and Wildlife staff members throughout the workshop.
Visit preservationtexas.org/masonry to learn more and register today!
Stone ruins of the Escontrias homestead at Hueco Tanks State Park.
