The following article was inspired by research and original writing by THF board member Bernie Sargent, whose enthusiasm for uncovering lesser-known stories of Texas history sparked this look at Bernardo de Gálvez and Spain's role in the American Revolution.

As Americans celebrate the 250th anniversary of the nation's founding, it's worth asking: what role did Texas play in the Revolutionary War? While Texas wasn't one of the original thirteen colonies, it still made meaningful contributions to America's fight for independence through the efforts of Spain and one remarkable military leader.

That leader was Bernardo de Gálvez (1746–1786), the Spanish governor of Louisiana, whose bold campaigns along the Gulf Coast helped change the course of the war.

Even before Spain formally entered the war in 1779, Gálvez quietly helped the American cause by allowing military supplies—including gunpowder, muskets, uniforms, blankets, and medicine—to move through New Orleans and up the Mississippi River to the Continental Army. Once Spain declared war on Great Britain, he took the fight directly to British forces along the Gulf Coast.

The Texas Military Forces Museum in Austin received funding for its paid, six-month internship program in collections management, exhibit development, and daily museum operations – training the next generation of museum professionals while preserving Texas military history.

Texas Heritage Project of American Indians in Texas at the Spanish Colonial Missions (AITSCM) received support that will help transform 11 years of community-driven research and a 26,000-item archive into a published book exploring the First Peoples and diverse cultural heritage of South Texas.

A recent THF grant will support the expansion of Latinos in Heritage Conservation's bilingual Latinx Preservation Toolkit, providing communities across Texas with the resources to document, protect, and celebrate their cultural heritage.

The Museum of the West Texas Frontier is expanding its free, TEKS-based educational programs with support from a recent THF grant, bringing hands-on Texas history lessons and field trips to rural Title I students across West Texas.