National Register of Historic Places

Monuments and Buildings of the Texas Centennial

The 1936 Texas Centennial was the first statewide effort by Texans to commemorate historical events, places, and people. In 2018, the National Park Service approved THC’s “Monuments and Buildings of the Texas Centennial” Multiple Property Form that included a historic context for the statewide commemorative program of the 1930s and an inventory of associated properties. Beginning in 2018, several Centennial commemorative properties in Texas were individually listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and nominations for others are in process.

Mission 254: National Register Listings for Every Texas County

Since 1969, the Texas Historical Commission has assisted with the preparation and processing of National Register nominations. Most of these were initiated at the local level, by property owners, county historical commissions, preservation groups, and Texas Main Street and Certified Local Government programs. 26 Texas counties, however, have no properties listed in the National Register, but each one has properties that meet the criteria for listing, including: historic houses and residential neighborhoods; county courthouses and other public buildings such as schools and city halls; and downtown districts that include commercial, civic, and religious buildings.

The National Register program in Texas is still driven by local initiative, and our staff is happy to work with any and all applicants who wish to gain national recognition for the historic properties they value, as long as they meet at least one of the National Register criteria and retain a good degree of integrity. We invite residents and property owners in these 26 counties to identify and nominate your local historic treasures. For more information, contact Greg Smith, the National Register Coordinator.