AUSTIN, Texas — The Texas Historical Commission (THC) has promoted Joseph Bell, deputy executive director of its historic sites division since 2015, to executive director of the agency and its 350 employees.
Bell leads the Lone Star State's official state agency for Texas historical preservation, providing guidance and oversight to the agency's 38 historic sites, delivering regulatory guidance for state and federal historic and archeological designations, state and tax historic tax credits, and other economic development programs showcasing historic preservation benefits to quality of life, tourism and downtown revitalization.
“Joseph Bell is a proven leader who accomplished much overseeing the historic sites,” said John Nau III, chairman of the board of commissioners. “He is an ideal choice to lead the agency forward and expand its mission of saving the real places that tell the real stories of Texas.”
During Bell’s tenure, the THC has grown both the network of state historic sites under the agency’s stewardship and vastly expanded interpretation, programming, and visitor amenities. Key initiatives under Bell’s leadership include the opening of the 10,000-square-foot visitor center at San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site, a major restoration and re-opening of the Fulton Mansion State Historic site following Hurricane Harvey, and the addition of the Bush Family Home (Midland) and Presidio La Bahía (Goliad) as state historic sites in 2023.
The THC’s Historic Sites Division also re-opened the French Legation State Historic Site (Austin), a renovated visitor center at Mission Dolores State Historic Site (San Angelo) and completed the Villa de Austin townsite evocation at San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site.
The Caddo Mounds State Historic Site visitor center and museum (Alto) reopens May 18 after the destruction of the museum by a 2019 F3 tornado that ravaged the Cherokee County area. A $51 million restoration project at the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site is scheduled to be completed in 2025. Renovations are also planned for the San Jacinto Battlefield State Historic Site soon, including a full restoration of the visitors center.
Before joining the THC, Bell had leadership roles with History Colorado overseeing regional museums, state preservation grants, and serving as Vice President of Finance and Facilities, as well as earlier work with the National Park Service and the City of Denver related to historic preservation projects.
“I am humbled that the commissioners have confidence in my ability to take the THC to new heights and lead this incredible staff who do so much to help communities across the state preserve their iconic and inspiring histories,” Bell said.
Bell succeeds Ed Lengel as the seventh executive director of the THC.