Sam Houston Memorial Museum Celebrating Nation’s Semiquincentennial With Free America250 Traveling Exhibit
Sam Houston Memorial Museum Celebrating Nation’s Semiquincentennial With Free America250 Traveling Exhibit
The Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library in Huntsville invites the public to view a new temporary exhibit, “Texas America250”, on loan from the Texas State Library and Archives Commission (TSLAC) through Aug. 16, 2026.
Highlighting historically significant Texas treasures from TSLAC’s collections, “Texas America250” will be loaned to local public libraries, schools and other community organizations starting in summer 2025 and continuing throughout the semiquincentennial year of 2026.
The “Texas America250” exhibit highlights historically significant Texas treasures from the State Archives, encouraging all Americans to explore the story of the Lone Star State over the past 250 years. From Spanish missions to the space race, the landscape, culture, economy and people of Texas have played essential roles in the development of the United States.
“The Sam Houston Memorial Museum is excited to partner with the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in bringing this traveling exhibit to the community,” said Tod Lawlis, museum curator of exhibits. “This is a great way for Texans of all ages to learn more about the state’s role in U.S. history and explore some of our most treasured documents, photographs and artifacts.”
The museum recently received a generous gift of Blue Liberty China from Barbara Dominey. The pattern was commissioned for the nation’s bicentennial celebration in 1976. As part of this look back at our nation’s history, the museum’s “Texas America250” exhibit includes a beautiful display of the Blue Liberty China pattern.
TSLAC invites Texans of all ages to join its statewide Texas America250 Reading Challenge in 2026. Additional resources from TSLAC’s extensive library collections, the Talking Book Program and the Texas Center for the Book will be available later this year. Bookmark www.tsl.texas.gov/america250/ to stay informed about upcoming Texas America250 programming.
“Texas America250” will be on display for free through Aug. 16, 2026, at the Katy and E. Don Walker, Sr. Education Center, 1402 19th Street, Huntsville, during museum operating hours. For more information, visit www.samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com.
This project is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services.
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The Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library
Tod Lawlis, Exhibits Curator, tal062@shsu.edu, 936-294-3292