The Texas Historical Commission Library

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) library in the historic Gethsemane Lutheran Church building houses a unique collection that makes it a one-of-a-kind facility for agency staff, outside professionals and citizens interested in history, archeology and preservation. The library is open to the public although the collection is noncirculating.

The collection reflects the agency's historic preservation mission. It contains approximately 5,000 publications, including about 3,000 books, most of which focus on some aspect of Texas' rich heritage. The library holdings are divided into four main areas: museum studies, archeology, state and local history, and historic preservation and architecture.

Two of the library's most significant resources include the agency's historical marker files, which number about 11,500, and a file collection of the state's 2,500 National Register sites. Other notable library resources include:

• Survey reports of archeological and cultural resources

• Maps from the 1936 county survey

• Slides and photos of state historic sites and buildings

• City and county histories

• A general reference section

• A collection of archeology and history periodicals

The library contains two public computer terminals that allow visitors to access the Internet and the Texas Historic Sites Atlas. The Atlas is an online database of information on more than 200,000 Texas sites, maps and other historic attractions.

Hours
Temporarily closed for renovations. Please call 512/463-8817 for more information.

For copies of individual National Register nominations, call 202/354-1496 or contact nr_references@nps.gov.

Location
The library is located at 1510 N. Congress Ave. in downtown Austin on the corner of W. 16th St. and N. Congress Ave., one block north of the State Capitol. Contact the THC Library or call 512/463-8817 for more information.

THC Library and Research Links