Austin, TX - The Texas Historical Commission (THC) recognized Shumla Archaeological Research and Education Center as the 2025 recipient of the Texas Historical Commission Award of Excellence in Preserving History.
The award acknowledges an individual, organization, or project that significantly contributes to the understanding and preservation of Texas history. It honors achievements in preservation planning, historic site identification, preservation of significant archival or artifact collections, or research that leads to a greater understanding of state or local history. It is one of 10 annual THC Preservation Awards recognizing individuals and organizations involved in various aspects of historic preservation.
For 28 years, the Shumla Center has conducted preservation, research, and documentation projects in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands region of southwest Texas and northern Mexico. Over the past nine years, staff completed major scientific research initiatives, including the Alexandria and Hearthstone projects, which together represent the largest rock art recording effort undertaken in Texas.
In addition to its research activities, the Shumla Center maintains an active outreach and education program. The Shumla Scholars Program provides internships for high school students, develops instructional materials for K–12 classrooms, hosts “Lunch and Learn” presentations, and organizes public engagement events such as Shumla Treks.
The Shumla Center also collaborates with a broad network of partners. These include community organizations, private landowners, the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the National Park Service, and the THC’s Archeology Division. The Center’s projects and partnerships reflect its ongoing role in documenting and preserving Texas’ cultural resources in the region.
About Preservation Awards
The THC Preservation Awards recognize and honor those who have committed themselves to saving the real places and real stories of Texas. The awards celebrate their accomplishments and exemplary leadership in the preservation of Texas’ heritage.
The awards will be presented at the THC’s Real Places 2026 conference, April 8-10, in Austin and online. Presented by the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission in partnership with Phoenix 1 Restoration and Construction, LLC, Real Places is the premier historic preservation and heritage tourism event in the Lone Star State. It offers world-class sessions, workshops, tours, special events, entertainment, and networking activities, while bringing together many different audiences under the banners of history, heritage, and preservation.
About the Texas Historical Commission
The THC manages 42 state historic sites, the Texas Heritage Trails Program, Texas Main Street Program, and many more heritage tourism and historic preservation initiatives across the state. For more information, visit thc.texas.gov.