What preservation programs, grants, and tax credits does the Texas Historical Commission offer?

The Texas Historical Commission (THC) runs several distinct programs that help Texans preserve, fund, and promote historic places. If you own a historic building, lead a local organization, or want to mark a significant site, the relevant tools are the Historical Markers program, the state and federal rehabilitation tax credits, the agency's preservation grants and funding, its tourism and economic development assistance, and the Texas Main Street Program. Each has its own purpose and application path, so the right one depends on whether your goal is recognition, financing a rehabilitation, or revitalizing a downtown.

Historical Markers

The THC's Historical Markers program commemorates topics in Texas history. According to the agency, markers recognize:

• Buildings
• Military sites
• Events that changed the course of local and state history
• Individuals

This is the program to look at if your goal is official recognition of a person, place, or event rather than funding a construction project.

Tax credits for rehabilitating historic buildings

The THC administers both a state and a federal tax credit program for the rehabilitation of historic buildings. The agency describes these as programs you apply to through a defined process, and it points applicants to information on "the process and how to apply."

Two practical points follow from this:

• The credits apply to rehabilitation work, not new construction or general maintenance.
• Because there are two separate programs (state and federal), you should confirm which one fits your building and project before starting work, since eligibility rules and application steps differ.

The THC does not publish pricing on this page, so treat any cost or fee questions as something to verify directly with the agency.

Preservation programs, grants, and tourism/economic development assistance

Beyond markers and tax credits, the THC offers a broader set of preservation programs, including:

• Grants and other funding — the agency lists grants and other funding among its preservation programs.
• Tourism and economic development assistance — support aimed at communities leveraging history for economic benefit.

If you are a local government, nonprofit, or community group rather than an individual building owner, this is the category most likely to apply to you.

Texas Main Street Program

The THC describes the Texas Main Street Program as "a powerful tool for reviving local economies and bringing communities together to forge their future." It is a community revitalization program, so the natural applicant is a city or downtown organization rather than an individual. If your interest is revitalizing a historic commercial district, start here rather than with the marker or tax credit programs.

Submitting a project for review

The THC asks those "get started protecting Texas history" to submit a project to its regulatory counsel. For faster handling, it offers eTRAC, described as its online processing tool. The agency also provides guidance on what to send in for project review. In practice, this means:

1. Determine whether your project needs regulatory review.
2. Use eTRAC for expedited processing.
3. Check the "what to send in for project review" guidance before submitting so your packet is complete.

Which program fits your situation?

Where to go next

The THC homepage links directly to its Historic Sites, Atlas, Events, Store, Historical Markers, Historic Road Trips, and The Medallion magazine, along with Texas Time Travel for planning history-focused trips. For program specifics, application steps, and current requirements, work from the THC's own program pages and the eTRAC tool rather than secondary summaries, since eligibility and process details can change.