Public agencies, or any group or individual, may submit a property in public ownership for official State Antiquities Landmark (SAL) designation. Upon receipt of a complete nomination, the executive director of the Texas Historical Commission (THC) determines whether the property is eligible for designation and schedules the nomination for consideration at one of the commission’s public meetings. Nominations are first considered by the Antiquities Advisory Board, which makes recommendations to the commission. The commission allows a comment period prior to a final designation vote at their next scheduled meeting.
Privately owned property may be nominated for SAL designation by the property owner. SALs on private property receive the same protection under the Code as resources on public property. The designation is recorded in county deed records and conveys when the property is sold.
Potential SALs are evaluated under specific criteria within the following categories:
- Archeological sites
- Shipwrecks
- Caches and collections
- Historic buildings and structures
The Application for State Antiquities Landmark Nomination form may be downloaded from the Forms page. The criteria for evaluation and the designation process are explained in greater detail in the Rules of Practice and Procedure for the Antiquities Code of Texas (Texas Administrative Code, Title 13, Chapter 26) under Statutes, Regulations, and Rules. Those who intend to nominate a property in public ownership or private property should read and be familiar with these rules.
For more information, or to begin the nomination process, contact the State Antiquities Landmarks program contact.
