The Texas Historical Foundation held its fifth Star of Texas event last month to celebrate the newest Star of Texas award recipient – Dale Sellers and his company, Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction. Since its founding in 1999, Phoenix 1 has become the premier firm in Texas specializing in the preservation and restoration of historic structures across the state, from a one-room 1840s log cabin to the Texas State Capitol. The breadth of their work and devotion to high-quality preservation projects has left an indelible mark on over 1,000 historic sites across Texas and earned them the 2025 Star of Texas Award.
The Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin served as the location for the event this year, with attendees from around the state enjoying the evening’s festivities. The event began with a cocktail reception featuring live music, followed by dinner and the premiere of a film produced by Mark Birnbaum Productions. The film showcases the remarkable efforts of Dale Sellers and Phoenix 1 in preserving historic places throughout Texas. Following the film, Dale received the Star of Texas Award and addressed his selection with a passionate speech about his work.
Presenting sponsors for the Star of Texas event included: The Fritz and Mary Lee Duda Family Foundation and The Lewis and Dilworth Family Foundation; with additional sponsors The Costanza Family, Bangs Family, Doell and Marz Families, Stephen and Danelle Smith, JQ/IMEG, Neuco, Renaissance Historic Exteriors, and Treanor.
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2026 Duda Award Nominations Open June 9th |
THF is excited to announce the 2026 Michael C. Duda Preservation Awards, paying tribute to the legacy of architect and former board member Michael C. Duda by recognizing outstanding contributions to the preservation of Texas architecture with monetary awards up to $100,000. Nominations submission for the awards are open from June 9 - August 8.
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Announcing Our Spring 2025 Grantees |
Congratulations to the eight organizations that received grants in THF's latest cycle. Their hard work and dedication are so important to preserving the fascinating history of our state.
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- Preservation Texas, San Marcos, received support for the preparation and planning of the Preservation Texas Institute, envisioned as a preservation field school and statewide hub for preservation education and training based in Tehuacana, Texas, on the historic Trinity University campus.
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Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum, Cuero, will use grant funds for Cowboy Camp 2025. Now in its fifteenth year, the free youth summer camp offers immersive history education, developed from the Museum’s award-winning collections, which depict frontier life in South Texas.
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The Williamson Museum, on behalf of “The Stones Are Speaking”, will apply granted funds to expanding outreach and screenings of “The Stones Are Speaking”, a documentary film chronicling the extraordinary discoveries of archeologist Dr. Michael Collins at the Gault archeological site in Central Texas.
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Architecture and Design Foundation, Dallas, will create a Building Typology Manual for the historic Queen City neighborhood, preparing for its designation as a Dallas Landmark District.
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Council of Texas Archeologists, Cedar Creek, will conduct outreach for their Texas Private Lands Heritage Preservation Partnership, which raises awareness and provides resources to protect over 90% of state archeological and heritage resources on private property.
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Friends of the Mercedes Library, Mercedes, will use grant funds for a permanent exhibit and public history event at the Dr. Hector P. Garcia Memorial Library telling the story of Colegio Jacinto Trevino, the first Chicano college in the US.
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Taylor Museum of Waco and McLennan County History, Waco, was awarded a grant to conserve paper artifacts critical to their collection ahead of opening to the public later this year. Items undergoing restoration include an 1851 map of Texas by renowned map maker and early General Land Office employee Robert Creuzbaur.
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The Texas Center at Schreiner University, Kerrville, received support for “We Are What We Eat”, a documentary film following photographer Al Rendon as he documents Texas sausage-making traditions.
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The deadline for our next round of grants is July 15th. Learn more about the qualifications, application process, and more by visiting our website below.
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THF presented a grant to the Tom Lea Institute in El Paso earlier this month. The Institute plans to use the funds to digitize its collection of works by Texas artist Tom Lea. THF President & CEO David Preziosi, along with Director Juan Uribe and his wife Linda, enjoyed a preview of the organization's collection of Lea's works.
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| Fort Worth Museum of Science & History |
THF Directors Pat Rayes, Jay Minmier, and Danelle Baldwin Smith presented a grant to the Fort Worth Museum of Science & History in May. The museum received funds to restore artifacts from its General William Jenkins Worth collection for public exhibit, open now at the Fort Worth City Hall.
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David Preziosi and THF Director Bernie Sanders presented Friends of the THC with a grant to support scholarships at Real Places in Austin. The 2025 conference featured educational sessions, panels, and keynotes for professionals and volunteers working to preserve historic resources across Texas.
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Preziosi Appointed to the Texas Historic Commission State Board of Review |
THF President & CEO David Preziosi has been appointed to the State Board of Review by the Texas Historical Commission for a two-year term. The Board plays a crucial role in evaluating nominees to the National Register of Historic Places, assessing whether a site or district retains the historic integrity necessary for Register inclusion, and determining its significance at a local, state, or national level.
Since the passage of the National Historic Preservation Act in 1966, each state historic preservation office has worked with the National Park Service to identify and evaluate historic sites for the National Register. Listings are instrumental in protecting sites of archeological, architectural, and historic significance, providing access to state and federal tax credits for their rehabilitation. Since 2015, $5.3 billion has been invested in Texas historic buildings using historic tax credits.
Preziosi is honored to have been appointed to the board by the THC and attended his first meeting earlier this month. He will join the board of 11 three times a year for review, bringing with him 30 years of experience in the historic preservation field and experience gained preparing National Register nominations himself.
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| 2025 Texas History Symposium |
The 2nd annual Bryan Museum Texas History Symposium will take place on June 28th in Galveston. Texas Historical Foundation is returning as an event sponsor. The event brings together experts from across the state to Galveston to discuss topics related to Texas history. The 2025 symposium will examine the past, present, and future of key industries in Texas, including ranching, energy, and medical technology. Reduced pricing is offered for students, educators, and museum members, and early bird pricing is available for non-members until June 1st.
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Bill & Colleen Batchelor, Bryan
Bob Gunby, Dallas
Jennifer Schwenker, Austin
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B.F. Hicks, Mount Vernon
Robert Oliver, Cuero
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Lake Jackson Historical Association, Lake Jackson
Mexican American Museum of Texas, Grand Prairie
Preservation Austin, Austin
The Cibolo Center for Conservation, Boerne
View all Institutional Partners
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Thank you for your donation |
Vaugh Aldredge, Austin
James Harkins, Austin
David Preziosi, Dallas
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