Museum Services | Texas Historical Commission

Texas is home to over 1,000 local history museums. Whether housed in a historic structure or a state-of-the-art new building, each one is dedicated to telling the story of a community’s unique history. Collectively, they preserve the real places and the real things that tell the whole story of Texas.

The Museum Services Program enables small history museums to better carry out their missions by helping them to increase their capacity for meeting professional standards. We do this by providing the following services at no cost:

Training
Resources
Consultations
Communications

To be included in the THC Atlas, a history museum must exhibit and interpret objects and stories in a structure designed for public visitation, on a regular schedule at least 120 days per year.

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Webinar Series

Fuel Your Program with PETRO - Interpretive Skills Training, Tuesday, March 25, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT
DIY Audio 101: A Practical Introduction to Producing Audio Content Wednesday, April 2, 2025, at 10 a.m. CT
Engaging Youth in Museums and History, for the U.S. 250^th and Beyond, Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT at 2 p.m. CT

Are You Attending TAM & Real Places in 2025?

We have a special offer just for you!

Register for both events and receive a $100 rebate for each after attending both conferences. To save up to $200, register for both conferences — TAM 2025 Austin on April 6-9 and Real Places 2025 on April 23-25 — and fill out our rebate form by May 15, 2025.

The Museum Track for Real Places 2025 is as follows:

Tours and Workshop of Interest:

Discover the Data-Driven Story of Your Downtown
Oral History 101: Hands-On Edition
Historic Foodways Without a Historic Kitchen
Heritage Encounters: Crafting Transformative Visitor Experiences
The Nonproﬁt Governance Puzzle: Finding the Right Fit for Your Organization

Sessions:

Balancing Heritage and Accessibility: Implementing Accessibility Standards for Historic Buildings
Empowering Communities: Leveraging the Texas Heritage Trails Program for Boosting Economic Growth
Everything Old is New Again—Reshaping Programming at Public History Venues
Grandma Told Me That—Oral Traditions and Lessons in the Anthropology of History
Guided Tour of The Portal to Texas History’s Collections and Partnerships
Heritage in Harmony: Storytelling Partnerships at the Crossroads of Preservation and Tourism
Incorporating Resilience into Heritage Management: A Framework for Assessing Vulnerability
Little-Known Stories in Texas Jewish History Using Archival Connections
It Happened in Your Town: The Reconstruction Era National Historic Network
Public Heritage and Community Engagement Through Pedagogy of Place: Teaching Indigenous Cultural Heritage and Knowledge
Railroad Stories are Women's History
Semi-Q: America250 in Texas
Sneaky History: Escape Games in the Museum
The Crossroads of Dr Pepper and Ethnic Heritage in Waco
What is a National Historic Trail?—The Case Study of El Camino Real de los Tejas
Windows into History: Telling a Town's Stories

Resources

The Helpful Resources section below provides a number of downloadable resource lists, articles, and other useful information for museums. All previous Museum Services Webinars are archived and available to view at any time. The Connect and Learn section below provides links to trainings hosted by other organizations and services, as well as listings of museum professional organizations. Grants and Fundraising offers resources for grant-writing, fundraising ideas, and an extensive list of grant opportunities relevant to museums in Texas. Review our information on Museum Consultants Working in Texas here.

Consultations

Program staff can provide free, individualized assistance and support to museums in any aspect of museum operations, including but not limited to:

Starting, planning, or reorganizing a museum
Mission statements, strategic planning, and professional ethics
Disaster preparedness and recovery
Collections interpretation and educational programs
Exhibit planning and design
Board development and relations
Volunteer recruitment and training
Fundraising and special events
Marketing and social media
Collections care and security

Communications

Program staff sends email notices on timely information about current trends, available resources, upcoming grant deadlines, training opportunities, and other types of assistance.

Q: What is the Museum Services Program?
A: Museum Services is a program within the History Programs Division at the Texas Historical Commission whose purpose is to provide support, resources, and training to the small history museums of Texas. Download the Museum Services Fact Sheet.
Q: On what topics can the Museum Services Program offer assistance?
A: Staff can assist with many aspects of museum operation. Possible topics include planning, governance, public programming, collections care and management, policies and procedures, fundraising, marketing and public relations, and professional development.
Q: How do I request assistance from the Museum Services Program staff?
A: Email Museum Services or call 512-463-5921 to receive assistance and support via email or phone.

Q: Where can I find traveling exhibits to borrow for my museum?

A: There are many benefits to bringing traveling exhibits to your museum! Humanities Texas, the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History, Art Bridges, the Texas Lakes Trail Region, ExhibitsUSA, Exhibit Envoy, Johnson Space Center, the Smithsonian's SITES program, and the Center for Railroad Photography and Art all offer exhibitions available for museums to borrow. Lenders may require fees, facility reports, and/or other application, programming, or reporting information.
Q: Can the Museum Services Program staff come to my museum for an on-site consultation?
A: Unfortunately, due our small staff size we are unable to travel to museums to provide an in-person on-site consultation. However, we are always available by phone and email. We also maintain a list of consultants who you can contact to discuss contract work. Would you like to be added our our consultant list? Complete this brief form.
Q: Is grant funding available to museums from the Texas Historical Commission?
A: As a result of the 82nd Texas Legislature’s budget reductions, the History Museum Grant program is suspended indefinitely.
Q: What are some other sources of grant funds for history museums?
A: Many grant programs are listed in the Grants and Funding Sources guide you can download from the Grants and Fundraising page.
Q: How do we start a new museum in our community?
A: Museums can help to preserve and promote a community’s history and to support its heritage. However, museums are specialized and resource-intensive institutions. Successful and effective museums are expensive, labor-intensive, and time-consuming ventures. We encourage your group to consider the creation of a new museum carefully and cautiously.
Put together a small steering committee to research the possibility of starting a new museum. The American Alliance of Museums has developed a comprehensive toolkit that we recommend utilizing, titled From the Ground Up: A Toolkit for Starting a Museum. We recommend reading the entire toolkit and doing all of the included exercises as a group, being thorough, honest, and realistic. Additional resources for starting a museum can be found here.
If after completing the exercises above you feel that your community’s prospects and resources are sufficient enough to proceed with planning, contact the Museum Services Program. The staff can help guide you through the formal organization process.
Q: Can we get a grant to start a museum?
A: With rare exception, there are no grants available to start a museum. The vast majority of grant programs give priority to improving and supporting existing museums over developing new ones. Funding for new museums generally must come from the community itself—city or county governments, local businesses. or individual donors.
Q: Where can I get a list of museums in Texas and/or in my area?
A: History museums that are open to the public for at least 120 days per year are included in the THC’s Texas Historic Sites Atlas.
Q: How does the THC define a history museum?
A: A history museum is defined as a museum with a primary mission focusing on the preservation and interpretation of cultural history. This can include natural history but does not include art, science, children’s museums, archives or libraries. The museum must be an organized and permanent institution in the state of Texas, with a primary mission to serve as a history museum. Texas is home to over 1,000 history museums!
Q: I want to donate or sell an object to a museum. How do I find an interested museum?
A: Each museum has its own unique collecting focus. They have collections policies that dictate what they will and will not collect. Whether or not they will accept your object depends on a number of criteria. Some of the criteria include whether it fits within the museum’s interpretive scope, whether it helps support the museum’s mission, the condition of the object, whether the museum has the resources to care for and store the object, and the type of restrictions placed on the donation. You’ll have to do some research to determine which museums might be interested in collecting your object. Look to their websites for information or call and talk to the staff. If you want to visit with the museum staff in person, make an appointment first.
Q: Can I take an object of historical significance to a museum for an appraisal? Can the THC appraise the object?
A: Most museums will not place a monetary value on objects. It is considered unethical in the museum world and can lead to potential conflict of interest problems. However, some museums may be able to help you identify an object or determine its authenticity. The THC is also unable to provide appraisals. If you are looking for a monetary value of an object, you’ll need to contact a professional appraiser. The websites of the American Society of Appraisers and the Appraisers Association of America can help you locate an appraiser in your area.
Q: Should our museum consider joining any professional organizations?
A: Membership in professional organizations offers many benefits. You’ll get access to current museum news and issues, educational opportunities, networking opportunities, discounts on publications and reduced registration fees for seminars and conferences. Look into joining one or more of the following organizations: Texas Association of Museums, American Alliance of Museums or the American Association for State and Local History.
Q: Does the THC offer educational and training opportunities for museum staff and volunteers?
A: Yes. The Museum Services Program staff offers training workshops and webinars throughout the year. If you would like to host a workshop, contact Museum Services staff.
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Training Opportunities
In addition to Museum Services' own webinars and workshops, many organizations and services offer in-person and/or online training on a wide range of topics, some for a fee and some at no cost.
Free Professional Development
- Workshop: Collections Management Fundamentals and Policies, March 10,14,21,28, presented by Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts, $75 members/$90 nonmembers
- The Legal Landscape and Path Ahead for Nonprofits and Philanthropy, FREE, March 17, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT, presented by The Kresge Foundation
- De-Mystifying Environmental Data, FREE, March 17, 2025, 12 p.m. CT, presented by FAIC/C2C Care
- Why Hands-On STEM Labs Matter: The Science Behind Active Learning, FREE, March 19, 2025, at 1 p.m. CT, presented by EdWeb.net
- Executive Orders, Federal Grant Funding, and the Future of Museum Support, FREE, March 20, 2025, at 12 p.m. CT, presented by American Alliance for Museums
- Working With Consultants: What Nonprofits Need to Know (Live Q&A), FREE, March 20, 2025, at 1 p.m. CT, presented by Blue Avocado
- The Legal Implications of Executives Orders on Museums, FREE, March 24, 2025, at 12 p.m. CT, presented by American Alliance of Museums
- Reimagining Guided Experiences: Fostering Connection, Curiosity, and Meaningful Conversations, FREE, March 25, 2025, at 1 p.m. CT, presented by National Docent Symposium Council
- Working Your Core- Core Documents That Is!, FREE, March 27, 2025, at 1 p.m. CT, presented by American Alliance of Museums
- Simple Nonprofit Newsletter that Boost Donor Retention, FREE, March 28, 2025, at 11 a.m. CT, presented by Productive Fundraising
- Online Workshop: Creating Relevant and Meaningful STEM Experiences, FREE, April 15, 2025, at 1 p.m. CT, presented by National Informal STEM Education Network
- National NAGPRA Program: Notices Under NAGPRA, FREE, March 21, April 18, May 16, June 20, 2025, 12 p.m. CT, National Park Service
Fee Required
- C2C Care Course: Practical Risk Assessment for Small and Mid-Sized Cultural Heritage Institutions, March 5-March 26, 2025, 12 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. CT, presented by FAIC, $149
- Online Course: Collections Management Fundamentals and Policies, March 10-28, 2025, presented by Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts, tiered pricing based on group, student, or member status
- Financial Structures and Strategy – Online Course, March 24 – April 27, 2025, presented by American Association for State and Local History, $199 AASLH Members / $299 Nonmembers
- Why the Arts Are Vital for Healthy Communities: A Conversation with Dr. Maria Rosario Jackson, March 25, 2025, at 12 p.m. CT, presented by Next City, $10 registration fee
- C2C Care Course Sustainability Plans for Small and Mid-Sized Cultural Heritage Institutions, March 27 – April 17, 2025, presented by FAIC/C2C Care, $99 Early Bird through March 20, 2025/$149 Regular Fee
- Culture Shift 101 – A Workshop, March 28, 2025, presented by Museums Question Consulting, fee $199 - sign up before March 7 using code EARLYBIRD2025 for a discount of almost 30%.
- Us vs Them? Creating Healthy Board Relationships, April 3, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT, presented by American Association for State and Local History, $25 members/$45 nonmembers
- Care and Identification of Photographs, online course, April 14 – June 1, 2025, presented by Gawain Weaver Art Conservation, $625, Full-time Student Fee $475
- Intro to AI-Powered Grant Proposal Writing: Supercharge Your Impact, April 3, 2025, at 9 a.m. CT, presented by The Grantsmanship Center, $79 standard/$69 Alumni (contact for details)/$149 for groups of 2-10 people
- Museums and Schools Summit Virtual Conference, April 29-30, 2025, presented by Museum Next, see website for pricing
- Working with Craftspeople at Museums, May 1, 2025, at 2 p.m. CT, presented by American Association for State and Local History, $25 members/$45 nonmembers
- AASLH History Leadership Institute, Registration Now Open, June 16 – June 27, 2025, presented by AASLH, $3,760 (members, including staff of institutional members); $4,015 (nonmembers). Fees include both tuition and lodging. Six scholarships are available. The deadline to apply is January 15, 2024.
- Introduction to Indigenous History, presented by AASLH, $65 members/$90 non-members, on-demand
- "Changing Climate Management Strategies: Sustainable Collection Environments and Monitoring Object Response,” July 7 – 11, 2025, workshop restricted to 40 participants, presented by Getty Conservation Institute, $800 – financial assistance available.
- Introduction to Fundraising, presented by AASLH, on demand, $65 members/$90 non-members
- Creating Engaging Social Media Content for History Organizations, presented by AASLH, on demand, $65 members/$90 non-members
- Program Planning for Nonprofits, On Demand- On Line Course, presented by American Association for State and Local History, $65 AASLH Members / $90 Nonmembers
- Caring for Architectural Records, On Demand, presented by Northeast Document Conservation Center, $35
Small Museum Pro! Offered by American Association for State and Local History
Small Museum Pro! is a professional certificate program for history practitioners who work or would like to work, in small history organizations. It provides practical guidance and education on a variety of topics. To receive a certificate, applicants must complete and pass five courses from the program.
On Demand Learning
- Inventorying Collections for Museums, On Demand, presented by Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
- Finding New Sources of Funding in Challenging Times: An Introduction, On Demand, presented by National Preservation Institute
- AIC/FAIC Making the Most of Your Assessment, On Demand, Presented by AIC/FAIC
- Engaging Gen Alpha and Gen Z: Strategies that Slay! On Demand, Presented by EdWeb.net
- How AI Can Help, Not Hinder Your Work, On Demand, presented by Explore Minnesota
- Web Strategy That Works, On Demand, presented by Explore Minnesota
- Working with Facilities to Create a Fuller Picture of Your Collection Environment, On Demand, presented by FAIC
- Accreditation: Why It Matters and How to Achieve It, On Demand, presented by Southeast Museums Conference
- You are Welcome: Reconsidering Visitor Engagement, On Demand, presented by National Docent Symposium Council
- How to Acquire Funding for Your Collections Storage, on demand, presented by Southeastern Museum Conference
- Fundraising for Humanities Collections: Meet Daphne Mayer, on demand, presented by Conservation Center for Art & Historic Artifacts
- Introduction to Collection Management Policies, on demand, presented by Museum Study
- Creating Engaging Social Media Campaigns for Museums, On Demand, presented by Museum Hub
- Deaccession Myths: Myths, Misconceptions, and Missed Opportunities, On Demand, presented by Southeastern Museum Conference
- It’s the Law! An Introduction to Legal Issues for Collecting Objects, presented by Museum Study, On Demand
- Museums and Change: America’s 250^th Celebration, on demand, passcode for zoom recording: vkv7jN!m
- STEPS Standard, on demand, presented by AASLH
- Facilitating 250^th Planning Workshops for Small History Organizations, on demand, presented by AASLH. This webinar presents helpful resources in planning America 250 events. Planning resources referenced in this webinar can be found HERE.
- Podcasts
- Making the Museum
- I Was Told There Would be Snacks: A Nonprofit Podcast
- Humanities in Action
- Museum Confidential
- Museum People
The following professional organizations and blogs can help museum staff and volunteers connect with others in the field and stay up-to-date on news, current trends, and best practices in museums. Most also have e-mail lists that you can sign up for and social media accounts that you can follow to receive regular updates.
Professional Organizations
While many of these organizations provide benefits and resources to paid members, either at an individual or institutional level, most also offer some free resources. Many state and local groups host regular meetings.

National/International:
American Alliance of Museums
American Association for Museum Volunteers
American Association for State and Local History
American Institute for Conservation
American Museum Membership Conference
American Public Gardens Association
Art Bridges
Association for Living History, Farm and Agricultural Museums
Association for Preservation Technology International
Association for the Study of African American Life and History
Association of Academic Museums and Galleries
Association of African American Museums
Association of Art Museum Interpretation
Association of Carceral Sites and Museums
Association of Children's Museums
Association of Midwest Museums
Association of Research Libraries
Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries, and Museums
Coalition of Master's Scholars on Material Culture
Council of American Jewish Museums
Council of American Maritime Museums
Fire Museum Network
HeritageRail Alliance
Institute of Museum and Library Services
International Association of Museum Facility Administrators
International Coalition of Sites of Conscience
International Council of Museums
International Sports Heritage Association
The Jewish Museums Project
Ki Futures
Latinos in Heritage Conservation
Mountain-Plains Museum Association
Museum Computer Network
Museum-Ed
Museum Education Roundtable
Museum Hue
Museum Store Association
Museum Trustee Association
National Alliance of Preservation Commissions
National Art Education Association: Museum Education Division
National Association for Interpretation
National Association of Museum Schools
National Coalition for History
National Council on Public History
National Docent Symposium Council
North American Reciprocal Museum Association
Open Copyright Education Advisory Network
Preparation, Art Handling, Collections Care Information Network
Reciprocal Organization of Associated Museums
Southeastern Museums Conference
Small City-Owned Museums
Small Museum Association
Society for American Archaeology
Society of American Archivists
Sustainable Heritage Network
Visitor Studies Association
Western History Association

Texas:
Alliance for Texas History
Associated South Central Texas Small Museums
Archivists of Central Texas
Austin Emerging Museum Professionals
Austin Museum Partnership
Center for the Advancement of Study of Early Texas Art
Collection Managers Committee
Dallas Association of Directors of Volunteers
DFW Museum Education Roundtable
Galveston Area Museum Network
Houston Emerging Museum Professionals
Houston Museum Education Roundtable
Humanities Texas
Museum Association of Waco
Museum Emerging Leaders of Texas
North Texas Emerging Museum Professionals
San Antonio Emerging Museum Professionals
Southeast Texas Museum Association
Texas Archeological Society
Texas Art Education Association: Museum Division
Texas Association of Museums
Texas Association of Museums Affinity Groups
Texas Association of Museums Educators Committee
Texas Collections Early Response Alliance
Texas Commission on the Arts
Texas Folklore Society
Texas Living History Association
Texas Oral History Association
Texas State Historical Association
Texas Tropical Trail Region Museums
Texas Volunteer Management Conference
Wichita Falls Regional Museum Network
Blogs
The blogs below discuss topics related to work in museums, education, non-profits, and the cultural sector.

American Alliance of Museums
American Association for State and Local History
American Perceptionalism
Art Museum Teaching
Center for the Future of Museums
Engaging Places
ExhibiTricks
Kera Collective
Know Your Own Bone
Leadership Matters
Museum Human
Museum Notes
Museum 2.0
Museums and Aging
Nonprofit AF
Nonprofit Tech for Good
Preservation Leadership Forum
Records Express: The Blog of the Chief Records Officer for the U.S. Government
Thinking About Museums
Thinking Museum

Information Information developed by other organizations and individuals, and shared by the Texas Historical Commission, does not necessarily reflect the views of the THC and its staff.
Click on the links below to find resources related to the following subjects. Additional resources on any topic are available by contacting Museum Services staff. Many of the free webinars in our archives also address these topics.
Administration and Planning
Alternatives to Starting a Museum
The Art of Relevance
Basic Readings for the Small Museum
Code of Ethics for Museums
Developing a Mission Statement
History Organizations and Friends Groups: A Practical Guide for Success
Hotel Occupancy Tax Toolkit
How Can History-Focused Organizations Invest in Stability
How to Build an Effective Nonprofit Board
IRS - Small to Midsize Tax Exempt Organization Resources
Laws of Texas Pertaining to Museums
Mission and Institutional Planning
Museum Facts at a Glance
The Participatory Museum
Protecting African American Historic Places in Texas: A Legal Community Toolkit
Starting a Museum Resources
Strategic Planning Resources
Sustaining Places: An Encyclopedia of Resources for Small Historical Organizations
Texas Commission on the Arts Tools for Results Toolkit
What's Next? A Guide to Museum Transitions and Closures and a Supplement for Texas Museums
Which Museum Assessment Program is Right for My Museum? and 13 Tips to Expedite the Museum Accreditation Process
Collections Care
Active Collections
Benson Ford Research Center Care, Storage, and Handling of Objects
Canadian Conservation Institute
Collections Management Policy Toolkit
Connecting to Collection Care
Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts
Library of Congress
Museum Pests
Museum Textile Services Resources
National Park Service’s Conserve O Gram Technical Leaflet Series
National Park Service’s Museum Handbook
National Park Service's Preservation Briefs
Northeast Document Conservation Center
Northern States Conservation Center
Preservation Glossary
Smithsonian Museum Conservation Institute
Standards for Museums with Native American Collections
Community Engagement
Community Issue Exhibition Toolkit
Community Ties: Understanding What Attaches People to the Places Where They Live
Designing for Engagement: Five Steps for Co-Creating Exhibits and Programs with Your Communities
How Museums Are Reaching Out to Their Local Communities
Museums Need Collections and Connections
Rural America Placemaking Toolkit
Stretch Your Operational Wings: Tools for Assertive Engagement
Towards a More Community-Centered Museum
Consultants and Vendors
Museum Consultants Working in Texas
Association of Tribal Archives, Libraries and Museums Directory of Consultants, Contractors, and Vendors
Ethical Contracting: Is Your Museum Doing It?
Hiring a Conservation Professional
International Mountmakers Forum Directory
Proxy Researcher List from the Archivists of Central Texas
Suppliers of Preservation and Conservation Materials
Ten Questions to Ask a Conservator
Working with Independent Museum Professionals
Writing Better RFPs
Disaster and Emergency Planning and Response
Seeking immediate assistance with disaster preparedness or emergency response? Contact the National Heritage Responders at 202-661-8068 or TX-CERA at 669-237-2243 for expert guidance and on-site support.

Disaster Checklists and Planning:
Developing a Disaster Preparedness/Emergency Response Plan
Disaster Plan Template for Museums
Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Plans for Small Museums
dPlan™ (NEDCC)
Emergency! If You're First
Emergency Drying Procedures for Water Damaged Collections
Emergency Preparedness Checklist for Museums
Facilities Risk Assessment for Museums
Location Risk Assessment for Museums
Preparation For a Hurricane
Salvage Priorities for Museums
Texas Division of Emergency Management Disaster Recovery Resources

Disaster Articles and Resources:
Disaster Preparedness Activity
Disaster Preparedness and Recovery Resources
Emergency Collections Assessment Program
Emergency Response and Salvage Mobile App
Heritage Emergency National Task Force
How Libraries Can Prepare for Natural Disasters and Preserve Community History
Museum and Cultural Heritage Industry Workplace Program
National Heritage Responders
Northeast Document Conservation Center
Texas Cultural Emergency Resource Alliance
Texas Disaster Preparedness
Audience and Sustainability
Accessibility Excellence Project
ADA Update: A Primer for Small Business
Are You Sustainable: A Self-Directed Assessment Tool
Before You Open it: A Checklist for Planning New Museums in Historic Buildings
Creating a Sensory-Friendly Environment
Characteristics of Unsustainable Organizations
Department of Justice - Americans with Disabilities Act Free Training Lessons
Make Your Arts Programming More Accessible to People with Disabilities
How to Make Your Museum More Accessible on a Shoestring Budget
How to Make Your Presentations and Meetings Accessible to All
If it is Time to Close: Considerations for Dissolving an Organization
Inclusive Digital Interactives: Best Practices + Research
Making History Accessible: Toolkit for Multisensory Interpretation
Summerlee Commission's Study on the Sustainability of History Organizations
Sustaining History Through Best Practices and New Approaches
Why History is Difficult to Sustain
Education, Interpretation, and Public Programs
Connect2Texas
Essential Reading for Museum Educators
History, the Past, and Public Culture: Results from a National Survey
Interpretation Standards
Monument Lab Field Trip
Museum Learning Hub
What Makes K-12 Public School Educators Choose to Use Museums as Part of Their Curriculum?
The Future of Visitor Engagement: AI for Interactive Storytelling at Museums | Cuseum
Exhibition Development
Basic Guidelines for the Preservation of Historic Artifacts
Collections Care Resources
Collections Management Resources
Exhibit Development and Design Workbook
Light Level Recommendations
A Quick Guide for the Preservation of Historic Artifacts
The Six Tools for Effective Digital Design
Smithsonian Guidelines for Accessible Exhibition Design
Smithsonian Guide to Interpretive Writing for Exhibitions
Textile Resource List
Grants and Fundraising
See the Grants and Fundraising page and download the Grant Funding and Assistance for History Museums guide.
Marketing & Social Media
Museum Marketing Tools: Strategies for Success in the Digital Age
Going Viral, The Right Way
ICOM Social Media Guidelines
Instagram for Nonprofits: The Ultimate Guide
Articles on Museum Marketing
Museums and YouTube
Sixteen Tips for Creating a Small Museum YouTube Series
Social Media Strategy for the National Archives
Three Ways Your Museum Should Be Using Instagram
Nonprofits
Blue Avocado
Board Source
Candid
Legal Guide to Forming a Nonprofit Association in Texas
Mission Capital
Nonprofit Quarterly
Propel Nonprofits
TechSoup
Texas Secretary of State
Volunteers
10 Must-Haves for Well-Crafted Volunteer Job Description
American Association for Museum Volunteers
A Practical Process Guide to Getting and Keeping Volunteers
Centering Untapped Communities in Your Volunteer Strategy
Cultivating Shared Leadership with Docents and Staff
Designing a Museum Volunteer Program
Difficult Conversations with Volunteers
How to Set Up a Volunteer Handbook that Fosters Engagement
Keeping Volunteers: A Guide to Retention
National Docent Symposium Council
Volunteers Get Burnout Too—But You Can Help Prevent It
Information developed by other organizations and individuals, and shared by the Texas Historical Commission, does not necessarily reflect the views of the THC and its staff.

Museum Services Links

Museum Services Resources

Museum Services

Museum Grants and Fundraising

Webinars

Workshops

Museums and Indigenous Tribes

Exhibit Technology

STEM in History Museums

Creating Local History Exhibits

Museum Services Contact

Contact Us

If you have questions about the Museum Services Program, please contact the program administrator using the information listed here.

Phone:
+1 512-463-6427
Email:
museums@thc.texas.gov
Address:

P.O. Box 12276
Austin, TX 78711
United States