Texas. State Parks Board

The Texas State Parks Board was created in 1923 (Senate Bill 73, 38th Legislature, First Called Session) to investigate prospective park sites in the state, to report to the Legislature with recommendations, and to solicit and accept donations of land for state park purposes. The State Parks Board was initially composed of five members, appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate to six-year terms, and they were to be state officers. The number of board members increased to six in 1937 (Senate Bill 484, 45th Legislature, Regular Session). This board was to begin locating sites for the establishment of the state parks system. It later directed and managed state parks, except the historical parks that were managed by the Texas State Board of Control or several separate commissions. The Parks Board was also charged with locating, designating, and marking historic grounds, battlegrounds, and other historic sites in the state, and erecting markers and monuments at such sites. The board also had the authority to create rules and regulations as necessary to carry out its duties.

The primary function of the board between 1923 and 1933 was to acquire lands for parks through donations. In 1933 the board received federal aid through several New Deal programs, making possible the development of 31 state parks by 1941. Most of this work was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in conjunction with the National Park Service (largely through its Emergency Conservation Work program); additional work was done by the Work Projects Administration (WPA) and National Youth Administration. The CCC work in Texas began in June 1933 and ended in 1941. The CCC developed 56 parks in Texas. Most are still public parks including 31 parks in the state park system.

The history of Big Bend National Park began in 1933 with the creation of Big Bend State Park on 15 sections of land in the vicinity of Santa Elena, Mariscal, and Boquillas canyons on the Rio Grande in southern Brewster County. Later that year the Chisos Mountains were added to the park acreage. In January 1934 the National Park Service recommended the site become a national park and called for the establishment of a Civilian Conservation Corps camp. The United States Congress passed the enabling legislation on June 20, 1935, stipulating that acquisition of the park acreage "shall be secured...only by public and private donations." The Texas State Parks Board was authorized by the 46th Legislature in 1939 to purchase land for Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas (Senate Bill 123, Regular Session) The Board was authorized to pay no more than $2.00 an acre, exclusive of improvements made to the land. The State Parks Board, through appropriations of $1.5 million by the 47th Texas Legislature, had purchased most of the land by 1942. During much of the 1941-1942 period while the Board was actively pursing land for the park, it maintained an office in Alpine, Texas to handle most of the land acquisition duties. The land purchase program activities were carried out by the Big Bend Land Department, a division of the Texas State Parks Board. Although several thousand acres remained in private hands, the park opened to the public in 1944. The last of the park's original acreage was purchased through Congressional appropriations in 1972. Additional purchases have added to the park's size in recent years through more Congressional appropriations.

In 1949, the state historical parks were transferred from the State Board of Control to the State Parks Board, except for the San Jacinto Battlefield, the Battleship Texas, and the Fannin Battlefield, which were still controlled by their respective commissions--the San Jacinto Battlefield Commission, the Battleship Texas Commission, and the Fannin Battlefield Commission (House Bill 120, 51st Legislature, Regular Session). In 1963, the Texas State Parks Board and the Texas Game and Fish Commission were merged to form the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) (House Bill 21, 58th Legislature, Regular Session).

(Sources: Enabling legislation; Handbook of Texas Online,State Parks Board article (accessed June 2005) and Handbook of Texas Online, Big Bend National Park article (accessed October 2006); and from information found in the Parks Board records.)

From the guide to the State Parks Board Big Bend National Park files, 1881-1883, 1895, 1897, 1904, 1909-1957, bulk 1941-1942, (Texas State Archives)

The Texas State Parks Board was created in 1923 (Senate Bill 73, 38th Legislature, First Called Session) to investigate prospective park sites in the state, to report to the Legislature with recommendations, and to solicit and accept donations of land for state park purposes. The State Parks Board was initially composed of five members, appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate to six-year terms, and they were to be state officers. The number of board members increased to six in 1937 (Senate Bill 484, 45th Legislature, Regular Session). This board was to begin locating sites for the establishment of the state parks system. It later directed and managed state parks, except the historical parks that were managed by the Texas State Board of Control or several separate commissions. The Parks Board was also charged with locating, designating, and marking historic grounds, battlegrounds, and other historic sites in the state, and erecting markers and monuments at such sites. The board also had the authority to create rules and regulations as necessary to carry out its duties.

The primary function of the board between 1923 and 1933 was to acquire lands for parks through donations. In 1933 the board received federal aid through several New Deal programs, making possible the development of 31state parks by 1941. Most of this work was done by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) in conjunction with the National Park Service (largely through its Emergency Conservation Work program), additional work was done by the Work Projects Administration (WPA) and National Youth Administration. The CCC work in Texas began in June 1933 and ended in 1941. The CCC developed 56 parks in Texas. Most are still public parks including 31 parks in the state park system.

In 1949, the state historical parks were transferred from the State Board of Control to the State Parks Board, except for the San Jacinto Battlefield, the Battleship Texas, and the Fannin Battlefield, which were still controlled by their respective commissions--the San Jacinto Battlefield Commission, the Battleship Texas Commission, and the Fannin Battlefield Commission (House Bill 120, 51st Legislature, Regular Session). In 1963, the Texas State Parks Board and the Texas Game and Fish Commission were merged to form the Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) (House Bill 21, 58th Legislature, Regular Session).

(Sources: Enabling legislation; Handbook of Texas Online,State Parks Board article (accessed June 2005); and from information found in the Parks Board records.)

From the guide to the State Parks Board records, 1901-1902, 1905, 1908, 1917, 1925-1963, bulk 1933-1949, (Texas State Archives)