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The Texas Historical Commission (THC) is the state agency charged with the responsibility of historic preservation in Texas. THC staff consults with citizens and organizations to preserve Texas' architectural, archeological and cultural landmarks. The legislature established the agency in 1953 as the Texas State Historical Survey Committee with the task to identify important historic sites across the state. The legislature changed the agency's name to the Texas Historical Commission in 1973. Along with the name change came more protective powers and broader educational responsibilities.The THC works to identify, preserve and protect historic properties across the state. Historic properties can include buildings and structures such as bridges and towers, as well as historic landscapes and cemeteries. One such property in our area is the Sam Rayburn House in Bonham.The Texas Historical Commission created the Texas Main Street Program to help cities revitalize their historic downtown areas and neighborhood commercial districts. The purpose of the program is to preserve the heritage of local communities as well as encourage economic development in these areas.Since it was established in 1981, more than 130 Texas cities have received assistance through the Texas Main Street Program, including the City of Denison in Grayson County, which graduated from the program in 1989. The program is one of the most successful downtown revitalization programs in the nation. It has generated approximately $860 million in private reinvestment of Texas downtowns and neighborhood commercial districts. Additionally, the program has led to the creation of over 18,200 jobs and the establishment of 4,600 businesses throughout the state.In addition to the Texas Main Street Program, the Texas Historical Commission offers a number of other historical preservation programs, including:The Certified Local Government Program - THC collaborates with state and federal agencies to offer this program, which helps local municipalities create and implement a strategy for preserving a wide-range of historic properties. Such properties may include courthouses and historic residences. Texas Heritage Trail Program - This program is a combination of preservation and tourism and is designed to encourage economic growth and raise the public's awareness of Texas' rich history and culture.Historic Texas Cemetery Program - Because cemeteries serve as records of the past for many historians, the Commission created this program, which creates records for as many cemeteries as possible, designates family and community graveyards as official historic cemeteries, and encourages preservation of historic cemeteries.The Texas Historical Commission has a number of other initiatives in addition to the programs and projects listed above. For more information on the Texas Historical Commission, please visit their website at www.thc.state.tx.us.
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