Friday, September 18, 2020 - 10:30am
By Gavin Miculka, Assistant Site Manager, Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill State Historic Sites
Texans captured after the Dawson Massacre and the Battle of Mier—including those that drew white beans—were eventually imprisoned in Castle San Carlos de Perote in the Mexican state of Veracruz. While a few managed to escape Perote Prison, most were not liberated until September 1844....
Thursday, August 20, 2020 - 12:21pm
By Jeff Harris, Site Manager, Magoffin Home State Historic Site
The stories of El Paso's Magoffin family are intertwined with the diverse dynamics of the borderland in the late 1800s. These are the real stories of people whose lives were impacted when Joseph and Octavia Magoffin moved into their new home in 1877.
Servants were an integral part of keeping the Magoffin Home...
Monday, June 29, 2020 - 3:31pm
By Kathy Lathen Educator/Interpreter Sam Rayburn House State Historic Site
Born: January 22, 1891 in Flag Springs, Texas
Died: July 22, 1914 of typhoid fever in Bonham, Texas
Abner Rayburn was the youngest of William and Martha Rayburn’s 11 children. Favored by his big brother, Sam, Abner aspired to work alongside the congressman, but fell ill and died before...
Tuesday, June 16, 2020 - 9:29am
By Rachel Galan, Assistant Site Manager, Caddo Mounds State Historic Site
It is a comfort in uncertain times to know that some things are certain. Recognizing ideas and beliefs that are universal creates unity among communities, easing feelings of isolation and fear. All the wild, beautiful, and sometimes unruly plants growing around us offer comfort through universal themes...
Friday, May 29, 2020 - 2:58pm
By Andy Rhodes, Managing Editor, The Medallion
In 2017, Gov. Greg Abbott signed a law officially transferring the French Legation in East Austin to the Texas Historical Commission. Since then, the agency has been meticulously preparing and executing plans to reopen the site to the public.
The THC’s Historic Sites Division has been overseeing a wide range of activity, from...
Friday, May 22, 2020 - 2:46pm
By Katelyn Shaver, Educator, San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site
Before refrigeration and canning there was hardtack: the original MRE (meals ready to eat). Hardtack was a flat, hard cracker made of flour, water, and salt. Holes were poked in the dough to make sure it stayed flat, and it was baked several times in order to remove the water. It didn’t taste great, but...
Thursday, May 14, 2020 - 9:51am
By Jeff Harris, Site Manager, Magoffin Home State Historic Site
The stories of El Paso's Magoffin family are intertwined with the diverse dynamics of the borderland in the late 1800s. These are the real stories of people whose lives were impacted when Joseph and Octavia Magoffin moved into their new home in 1877.
Uncle Charlie Richardson was Joseph Magoffin’s first-cousin,...
Tuesday, May 5, 2020 - 9:32am
by Bryan McAuley, Site Manager, San Felipe de Austin and Fannin Battleground State Historic Sites
As we begin to reopen our Texas Historical Commission State Historic Sites, we reflect on some of the fun, educational activities we developed while everyone was self-isolating.
Many historic sites and museums quickly pivoted to an online, distance-learning model during...
Wednesday, April 29, 2020 - 8:52am
By Rachel Galan, Assistant Site Manager, Caddo Mounds State Historic Site
In this time, when we are asked to draw in and make our worlds smaller, when groceries are sometimes hard to come by, and we are trying to minimize our trips to public places, I’ve noticed people’s focus and interest return to foraging for wild food and medicine, gardening, and other homesteading activities...
Tuesday, April 21, 2020 - 7:53am
By Jeff Harris, Site Manager, Magoffin Home State Historic Site
When I first arrived at the Magoffin Home State Historic Site almost three years ago, I was aware of adobe buildings from National Geographic magazine, TV history shows, and a wee bit I think I remembered from fifth-grade social studies.
I had never visited an adobe home before, much less an adobe mansion like the...
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