WOB, Fanthorp management transfers to Texas Historical Commission Sept. 1

While the media focus after the 86th Legislative Session was on property tax and education reform, receiving little press were three “historic” bills that will enhance the preservation of Texas history, one triggering a constitutional amendment.

Effective Sept. 1, HB 1422 transfers operation and management of the Washington-on-the-Brazos State Historic Site (WOB) and the Fanthorp Inn State Historic Site in Anderson from Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) to the Texas Historical Commission (THC).

The recommendation came during the Sunset Committee’s review of the THC and also included Lipantitlan State Historic Site, Monument Hill and Kreische Brewery State Historic Sites, Port Isabel Lighthouse State Historical Monument and Park, and the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site.

District 13 Rep. Ben Leman who supported the bill said, “While TPWD has admirably managed many historic sites in Texas, THC is the more logical agency to manage WOB because of its historic nature.”

According to Republic of Texas Complex Superintendent Jon Failor, the transfer of historic sites is not new. Ten years ago, 18 historical sites were transferred from TPWD to THC.

Failor said, “Over the last 10 years, the THC has really learned a lot about running sites, managing land and these types of places. What’s really good about this is that many of the Texas revolution sites will be managed by the same agency.”

Reflecting on the historical significance of San Jacinto and the Alamo, Failor said, “This story here is just as important and some would argue more. People risked their lives here to declare independence and sometimes that gets lost in the story because there was no literal blood shed on the grounds. There was no cannon fire, musket fire, sabers clanging. There were pens and political debate, arguments and risk. The risk was just as great because without it, there would be no Texas.”

What changes?

According to Failor, changes for park staff are minimal – no break in service, loss of benefits or impact on retirement. They will terminate from TPWD, begin new employment with THC, and the familiar khaki garb will be replaced with a more casual polo shirt with the THC logo.

Changes for park visitors include making reservations through WOB staff instead of central reservations in Austin, and single site ticket sales at the Visitors Center instead of separately at Barrington Farm, Independence Hall or the Star of the Republic Museum. Facilitating this change is the conversion of the two-way roads to one way, directing traffic to the Visitors Center.

Regarding Texas State Park Passes, THC doesn’t have a membership or park pass program but is “receptive to it.”

Failor said, “I’ve made a request that if the THC doesn’t develop its own membership program that we have a grace period to accept a state park pass.”

Star of the Republic

In addition to $8 million secured by Sen. Lois Kolkhorst for improvements to the Star of the Republic Museum at WOB, SB 2309 authored by Sen. Kolkhorst with Rep. Leman, transferred the jurisdiction and maintenance from Blinn College to THC, a move supported by Blinn College by letter and testimony. While THC will oversee operations, ownership of the building and collections remains with Blinn.

In a press release, Sen. Kolkhorst said, “It was the right time to secure funding and to put the operation under one umbrella agency.”

Constitutional

amendment

According to Rep. Leman, since 1993 more than half of the sporting goods sales tax revenue designated for TPWD and historic sites has been diverted to other uses. That could change, thanks to SJR 24 authored by Sen.

Kolkhorst, and a constitutional amendment addressing that tax.

Failor said the amendment “will mandate that the full allotment of that money no longer be picked at and will go to the places intended - TPWD and historic sites.”

He continued, “As much as Texans love their historic sites, love their parks and know they need help, I think it will pass overwhelmingly. This is game changing legislation for these sites. They will receive funding that they’ve never seen before and that is huge.”

Association support

continues

The WOB Park Association, created in the 1950s, is the oldest TPWD park support group. Improvements during its 70 years include construction of the Visitor’s Center, staff offices, renovation of Independence Hall, moving Anson Jones’ home to WOB, and were financed by Association fundraisers and a few grants.

President Cyndee Smith said, “We’ll continue to raise money for the park. We have a master plan for improvements that we worked on for a couple of years with TPWD - a lot of park enhancements, a new entrance, new flags - a nearly $2 million project which hit the pause button for THC to review.”

Included is the recent purchase of 4 acres to “create a new grand entrance we think this park deserves.”

The 501(c)(3) will continue to receive approximately $30,000 in hotel/motel occupancy tax (HOT) funds from Washington and Grimes counties and funds park advertising.

Failor said, “If we’re talking about major improvements over the next few years, that’s only going to increase the HOT funds. It’s going to put more heads in beds and people staying in this area.”

Focused on history

Failor said, “There were a lot of bills in play in this last legislative session that directly affect our site, THC and TPWD, from the transfer of the parks, to the transfer of the museum to the transfer of the sporting goods tax bill. When it all comes out in the end, the visitors’ experience will be greatly enhanced, and the sites will be taken care of better than they have ever been.”

He added, “Working for an agency whose primary focus is historic site management, archeology, collections, architecture, that’s all going to be a big plus for the stewardship of this place and the experience of its visitors.”