The Bullock Texas State History Museum’s mission is to create experiences that educate, engage and foster a deeper understanding of Texas, allowing visitors to connect personally with its history.

Located in Austin, the museum covers 16,000 years of Texas history, from the earliest inhabitants to the space race and beyond.

The Bullock Texas State History Museum sets itself apart by not maintaining a permanent collection. Instead, it showcases artifacts on loan from a variety of sources, ranging from other museums to private lenders.

“We're built on relationships,” Director Margaret Koch said. “Every item within the museum is on loan from another entity, museum or private lender, who has entrusted us with their artifacts in order to be able to take a deep dive into Texas history and how we got to where we are today.”

This approach allows the museum to continually refresh its exhibits, providing new stories and perspectives with each display rotation. The museum’s senior curator, Kathryn Siefker, said most items are loaned for about six months to a year, adding to the ever-evolving experience. This means every visit can reveal new artifacts, perspectives and stories about Texas’s history.

Current museum highlights include:

• A Texas sports exhibit with a section dedicated to the rivalry between the Dallas Cowboys and Houston Oilers
• An exhibit on immigration which shows the story of Italian immigration to Texas through artifacts from the Lucchese Boot Company
• An original copy of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, on loan from the National Archives in Washington, D.C.
• Art by muralist Ray Maldonado
• The A Better Life for Their Children exhibit, which highlights Julius Rosenwald, Booker T. Washington, and the 4,978 Schools that changed America
• A 60-foot-tall IMAX screen with dual laser projection showing documentaries and feature films

The museum strives to create a welcoming environment for diverse audiences. Recently, it completed a project to make all exhibits bilingual, ensuring accessibility in both English and Spanish. This initiative fosters inclusivity by inviting more visitors to engage meaningfully with Texas’s history.

“Before, you might see a kid doing the heavy lifting of interpreting for their grandparents or their parents,” Siefker said. “Now, it shifts the dynamic back to that older generation sharing the knowledge with the younger generation, because they feel like they can access the artifacts now too.”

Educational programs are another central aspect of the museum’s outreach. The museum hosts weekly activities, such as “Little Texans” story time for toddlers and “STEAM Lab Thursdays,” which integrate science, technology, engineering, art, and mathematics. On the first Sunday of every month, the museum offers free admission through its partnership with H-E-B, making it a popular day for family outings.

Through its rotating exhibits, inclusive programming and commitment to accessibility, the Bullock Museum has grown into a vibrant center of history and culture. Its success in making Texas history approachable and relevant to diverse audiences stands as a testament to the museum’s dedication to community connection and education.

To learn more about the Bullock Texas State History Museum, visit the museum’s website.

The above story was produced by Multi Platform Journalist Mary Katherine Shapiro with Community Impact's Storytelling team with information solely provided by the local business as part of their "sponsored content" purchase through our advertising team.