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Uncover Texas history and culture with TSHA's premier resources. The Handbook of Texas offers detailed insights into the state’s people and events, while the Texas Almanac is your guide to essential Texas facts and data. Dive into deeper stories with TSHA Press books—all crafted to bring Texas’s unique heritage to life.

Surrender of Santa Anna, William Henry Huddle, oil on canvas, 1886

Uncover Texas history and culture with TSHA's premier resources. The Handbook of Texas offers detailed insights into the state’s people and events, while the Texas Almanac is your guide to essential Texas facts and data. Dive into deeper stories with TSHA Press books—all crafted to bring Texas’s unique heritage to life.

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Handbook of Texas

The Handbook of Texas is a digital state encyclopedia that is freely accessible for students, teachers, scholars, and the public. The Handbook consists of entries focused on the entire history of Texas from the indigenous Native Americans and the Prehistoric Era to the state's diverse population and the Modern Age.

TSHA Press

We are the state’s longest-running publisher of books on Texas history, having published our first volume in 1918. Through the years, we have established a reputation as a publisher of high-quality, award-winning books on a wide variety of topics, including exploration, biography, architecture, historic sites, high school football, labor unions, and suburbanization. All lovers of Texas’s rich pasts will find something to enjoy among our books.

SHQ Scholarly Journal

The Southwestern Historical Quarterly (SHQ), continuously published since 1897, is the premier source of scholarly information about the history of Texas and the Southwest. Members can log in to the MyTSHA Dashboard to view the first 100 volumes of the Quarterly in our Digital Library. More recent editions are also available to read on MyTSHA thanks to our partners at Project Muse. Printed copies of the Quarterly are a TSHA membership benefit and are widely available in public and private libraries.

Texas Almanac

The Texas Almanac is the official State Book of Texas. First published in 1857, it has been an essential reference for the state’s history, government, and development for over a century. From its early years documenting the Texas Revolution to its modern role as a comprehensive guide to Texas’ resources, industries, and culture, the Almanac is a vital resource for anyone looking to understand the Lone Star State. Today, it continues to be a cornerstone of Texan history, managed by Texas State Historical Association.

Help topics
Goat Herder at the San Antonio Quarry (1909), Julian Onderdonk (1882–1922)

FAQ & Help Topics

Looking for answers about Texas history, TSHA services, or genealogy research? Our Help Topics & FAQ page has you covered! Explore the Handbook of Texas, a digital encyclopedia of the state’s history, and find details on entries, author guidelines, and submissions. Learn about TSHA publications, including award-winning books and ordering information. Need help with government services, memberships, or educational programs? Find guidance on state agencies, TSHA support, Texas History Day, and more. Researching history or genealogy? Get resources on land grants, cemeteries, and historical markers. Visit the Help Topics page now to find your answer!

Commemorating 250 years of American independence through the stories, people, and places that shaped Texas and the nation.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, Texans have a unique opportunity to reflect on the state’s role in the American story. Through exhibitions, programs, educational initiatives, and community events across Texas, Texas America250 encourages celebration, reflection, and commemoration at both local and statewide levels. At the Texas State Historical Association, we are proud to support this important moment through our mission-driven work in history education and public engagement, including Texas History Day, and we invite students, educators, and communities to explore this milestone in meaningful ways.

On July 4, 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the greatest nation in the history of the world. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Long may these ideals live in the heart of every Texan and every American. May God bless all who have defended our freedoms that we enjoy each day. And God bless the United States of America.

Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas

Commemorating 250 years of American independence through the stories, people, and places that shaped Texas and the nation.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary in 2026, Texans have a unique opportunity to reflect on the state’s role in the American story. Through exhibitions, programs, educational initiatives, and community events across Texas, Texas America250 encourages celebration, reflection, and commemoration at both local and statewide levels. At the Texas State Historical Association, we are proud to support this important moment through our mission-driven work in history education and public engagement, including Texas History Day, and we invite students, educators, and communities to explore this milestone in meaningful ways.

On July 4, 2026, we will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the adoption of the Declaration of Independence and the birth of the greatest nation in the history of the world. “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Long may these ideals live in the heart of every Texan and every American. May God bless all who have defended our freedoms that we enjoy each day. And God bless the United States of America.

Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas

Find Events

Discover commemorative events across Texas

Explore local and statewide programs, exhibitions, and public events connected to the semiquincentennial and the many stories that shape our shared history.

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Get Involved

Participate through education and community engagement

Learn how students, teachers, families, and local communities can take part in Texas America250 through activities, programs, and opportunities tied to Texas History Day and beyond.

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Explore the initiative and its broader purpose

Learn more about Texas America250 and the effort to promote deeper understanding of the nation’s founding and the contributions of Texans past and present.

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