Texas. State Preservation Board

The Texas State Preservation Board was created in 1983 by Senate Bill 147, 68th Legislature, Regular Session. The Board is composed of the Governor, who acts as chair, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Additionally, the Governor appoints one member, and the Lieutenant Governor and Speaker each appoint one member from their respective chambers. The appointed members serve two-year terms.

The enabling legislation creating the Preservation Board also created a Permanent Advisory Committee to assist the Board. It was composed of the Executive Director of the Historical Commission, Chairman of the Antiquities Committee, Director of the Library and Archives Commission, Director of the Commission on the Arts, and three citizens, one each appointed by the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and Speaker of the House. The Committee assisted in the development of the annual budget and work plan, the master plan, and collection policy and furnishings plan, and made recommendations concerning Board approval of these documents. This committee was abolished in 1995 by Senate Bill 1428, 74th Legislature, Regular Session.

The functions of the State Preservation Board are to preserve, maintain, and restore the building, contents, and grounds of the state Capitol, the Capitol extension, and the 1857 General Land Office, and convey their historical significance to visitors. The Architect of the Capitol develops and implements a master plan of at least twenty years projection for the maintenance, preservation, restoration, and modification of the buildings and their grounds. Tthe Curator of the Capitol develops and maintains an inventory of the buildings and their contents, develops a collection policy regarding the historical items, makes recommendations on conservation needs, and coordinates restoration of historical furnishings.

Funds for the building and restoration projects have come from private donations and from the state. The Legislature appropriated $187.6 million in 1989 to undertake the restoration of the General Land Office Building and the Capitol, and build an underground four-level extension to the Capitol. The Capitol extension and restoration of the Capitol's exterior were completed in 1993. Interior work on the Capitol was completed in 1995. Work on the improvements and changes to the Capitol grounds was completed in 1997. The restored General Land Office Building now houses the Capitol Visitors Center and the Texas History Gallery. It opened to the public in the spring of 1994.

The projects initially undertaken by the Board have been completed--restoration of the Capitol and contents, building the Capitol extension, restoration of the General Land Office building and contents, and improvements and changes to the Capitol grounds. The agency's responsibilities now include curatorial and historic preservation maintenance programs related to the buildings, their contents, and grounds; and the development and implementation of educational programs, including operation of the Capitol Visitors Center and the Texas History Gallery. In 1997 the 75th Legislature (House Bill 1107, Regular Session) charged the agency with overseeing the planning and construction of the Texas State History Museum, which opened in 2001. The museum is operated by the Preservation Board.

The agency is headed by an executive director and consists of six divisions: Administrative, Finance, Design, Curatorial, Construction, and Visitors Center staff. Vernon's Ann. Civ. St., Article 443.