Texas America250

Texas Girl Scout Songfest
2026-05-09 13:00 (America/Chicago) | Texas State Capitol, 1100 Congress Ave., Austin, TX, 78701, United States
Texas Girl Scout Songfest is a statewide celebration of Girl Scout spirit, sisterhood, and song, bringing together all seven Texas Girl Scout Councils.
This event aligns with Texas America250, the nationwide commemoration of the United States’ 250th anniversary in 2026, by honoring the values of unity, civic engagement, and cultural heritage through music and community. Connection to America250: Songfest embodies the America250 vision by fostering patriotism, inclusivity, and historical appreciation. Singing traditional Girl Scout and American folk songs at the Texas State Capitol creates a powerful moment of shared history and pride, echoing the themes of freedom and democracy that America250 seeks to highlight. Activities & Highlights: -Statewide Sing-Along: Girl Scouts from across Texas will gather on the Capitol steps to sing traditional Girl Scout songs and American classics. -SWAPS Exchange: Participants will trade SWAPS (Special Whatchamacallits Affectionately Pinned Somewhere), a beloved Girl Scout tradition. -Council Showcases: Informational booths and demonstrations highlighting each council’s unique traditions and programs. -Friendship Circle & Closing Ceremony: A Texas-sized circle to celebrate unity and sisterhood.
Event Agenda:
• 12:00 – 1:00 PM: Check-in at the Great Walk, receive songbook and patch, BYO picnic lunch
• 1:00 – 3:00 PM: Sing-along with Girl Scouts from across Texas at the Capitol Steps
• 3:00 – 4:00 PM: Texas-sized friendship circle, closing ceremony, SWAPS, Clean Up

KLRN Educator Session: The American Revolution | Spring 2026 Session
2026-05-14 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | World Heritage Center, 3106 Roosevelt Ave., San Antonio, TX, 78214, United States
Join KLRN and the World Heritage Center on May 14, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m., for a virtual professional development educator session featuring teaching resources available on PBS LearningMedia from the documentary “The American Revolution” by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. Our special guest speaker will be Stephanie Statz, Ph.D., of San Antonio’s World Heritage Center. Stay tuned for information about our Fall 2026 Educator Session on The American Revolution, which will be offered in September 2026.
Two (2) hours of continuing education credit will be awarded upon completion of the session and accompanying post survey.
Thank you to the Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation for supporting this event.

Laredo Chapter Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez America250 presentation series
2026-05-14 18:30 - 21:00 (America/Chicago) | Eduardo’s BBQ Steaks & Mexican Grill, 6516 Arena Blvd, Laredo, TX, 78041, United States
Please join us for our upcoming Laredo Chapter Granaderos y Damas de Gálvez Hybrid Meeting on Thursday, May 14, 2026, as we continue our popular America250 presentation series highlighting the states connected to Bernardo de Gálvez and Spain’s vital support of the American Revolution.
This month we are honored to welcome:
Natalie Steed
Development Officer, American Village
Executive Officer, Alabama USA Semiquincentennial Commission
who will present:
“Alabama’s America250 Initiatives”
Natalie Steed is an accomplished project director and organizational leader with broad experience in the banking, telecommunications, health, education, service, and nonprofit sectors. Her leadership style combines creativity, compassion, and analytical skill, helping organizations grow while fostering strong teamwork and public engagement.
Her presentation will highlight Alabama’s plans and initiatives for the upcoming Semiquincentennial celebration, while also recognizing the historic role Alabama played during the American Revolution—particularly the campaigns in which Bernardo de Gálvez and Spanish forces defeated the British along the Gulf Coast.
This will be another excellent installment in our America250 series as we continue exploring the broader story of American independence.
Two Ways to Attend
In Person:
Eduardo’s BBQ Steaks & Mexican Grill
6516 Arena Blvd, Laredo, TX

6:00 PM – Social time & dinner (optional, self-pay)
6:30 PM – Chapter Business Meeting
7:00 PM – Presentation Begins

Via Zoom:
• 6:30 PM – Chapter Business Meeting (optional)
• 7:00 PM – Presentation Begins
Click the link and follow the Zoom prompts to enter the meeting.
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82030520472?pwd=[REDACTED]
Meeting ID: 820 3052 0472
Passcode: [REDACTED]

Evolution Car Show
2026-05-16 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Louise Hays Park, 202 Thompson Drive, Kerrville, TX, 78028, United States
Evolution Car Show. 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Louise Hays Park, 202 Thompson Drive, Kerrville. Free to attend. American-made cars will line up in order by model year. Co-sponsored by Gibson’s Discount Center and Ken Stoepel Ford.

SPARK! Places of Innovation
2026-05-16 10:00 - 2026-06-28 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Kerr Arts & Cultural Center, 228 Earl Garrett St., Kerrville, TX, 78028, United States
This traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian’s Museum on Main Street program explores innovation and invention in rural America. A companion exhibit featuring innovations and creativity developed in Kerr County will accompany SPARK!. The exhibits will be on display at the Kerr Arts & Cultural Center. Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday.

Bluff SchuetzenFest 2026
2026-05-16 12:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Kreische Brewery and Monument Hill State Historic Sites, 414 State Loop 92, La Grange, TX, 78945, United States
Step back in time to the historic Bluff SchuetzenFest, where shooting kings reigned, beer taps flowed, and families forgot their worries for a day. Experience our annual festival honoring the legacy of brewmaster Heinrich Kreische and his thriving German-Texan community. The event includes a 5K at 8 am then the festivities start at noon. The main event is a beer fest, live music, food, and activities for all ages. Our location has Monument Hill which commemorates Texans killed in the 1842 Dawson Massacre and the 1843 Black Bean Lottery of the Mier Expedition.

Save Your Story: Oral History Workshop
2026-05-16 14:00 - 15:30 (America/Chicago) | TX
Oral histories are crucial to understanding the history of Brazoria County. In this presentation and workshop, you will hear first-hand accounts from those who lived on these plantation sites over the past centuries. Site Educators will then teach visitors how to record quality oral histories of their own and demonstrate how to us the online platform, Storycorps. Bring someone along whose story you want to save or just take notes to bring on your next visit to Grandma’s house.

Texas America250 Traveling Exhibit
2026-05-18 08:00 - 2026-09-15 17:00 (America/Chicago) | UTRGV University Library, One W. University Blvd, Brownsville, TX, 78520, United States
The Texas America250 Traveling Exhibit will be on display at the UTRGV University Library on both the Brownsville and Edinburg campuses. Visitors can view the exhibit by stopping by either campus library, where it is located on the 3rd floor at both locations. The exhibit will run from May 2026 through September 2026 and is free to attend.

Special Exhibit: Bypassed by Freedom but Building a Legacy
2026-05-23 09:00 - 2026-09-06 17:00 (America/Chicago) | San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site, 220 2nd St., San Felipe, TX, 77473, United States
As we celebrate the holiday weekend, please join us as we showcase our special exhibit, “Bypassed by Freedom but Building a Legacy,” highlighting the stories of the enslaved in San Felipe de Austin. Starting Saturday, May 23rd, learn about five different people who lived in San Felipe de Austin under enslavement: Mary Marks, Turner Morgan, Celia Allen, Joe Travis, and Simon Austin. Each of these people impacted the town’s story in numerous ways. From witnessing the Battle of the Alamo to being the subject of the first trial-by-jury in Texas, these people’s legacies go far beyond the years they lived. From Memorial Day Weekend through Labor Day, learn how history was shaped by them and what more there is yet to uncover about their lives. The exhibit will be available during normal museum hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 9am to 5pm.

Stars, Stripes & Storefronts
2026-05-25 14:00 - 2026-07-04 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Meredith Memorial Football Stadium, 1040 W. Loop 564, Mineola, TX, 75773, United States
Businesses in Mineola have been asked to decorate their windows and/or storefronts in honor of the semiquincentennial. The winner will receive a gift basket that will include “A Culinary Journey Through Texas History – A Texas Historic Sites Cookbook,” published by the Texas Historic Commission, among other things.

ATxH 2026 Annual Conference
2026-05-27 15:15 - 2026-05-29 15:15 (America/Chicago) | Texas Christian University, 2800 S University Dr, Fort Worth, TX, 76109, United States
The 2026 Annual Conference of the Alliance for Texas History features a session titled “RESEARCHING AMERICA’S 250TH: ARCHIVAL FINDS FOR TEXAS HISTORIANS AT THE AMERICAN SEMISESQUICENTENNIAL.” It features a chair and four presenters from major archival resources.

Southeast Texas in World War I
2026-05-28 19:00 (America/Chicago) | Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center, 650 FM 1011, Liberty, TX, 77575, United States
The Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center (SHC) will host a special event with author Stephen Cure on World War I and Southeast Texas on Thursday, May 28 at 7 p.m. In addition, visitors can experience a special display of historic items related to World War I from the collections of the Sam Houston Center and the Texas State Library and Archives Commission in Austin. At the Sam Houston Regional Library and Research Center in Liberty, Texas. For more information email SamHoustonCenter@tsl.texas.gov.

Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence
2026-05-29 08:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Mineola Civic Center, 1150 N. Newsom Street
Public Reading of the Declaration of Independence. Members will be dressed in attire appropriate to the period.

America 250: Celebrating our journey to 250 years!
2026-05-29 08:00 - 2026-09-29 17:00 (America/Chicago) | UTRGV University Library, One W. University Blvd, Brownsville, TX, 78520, United States
Celebrate America’s 250th birthday with the UTRGV University Library. The Library has created a digital poster exhibit commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States, featuring curated resources from government publications, library collections, and Special Collections & Archives. The exhibit connects national history to the Rio Grande Valley by highlighting significant military and political events, notable local historical figures, and recommended readings.
To complement the exhibit, the Library has developed a LibGuide. You can access the LibGuide and digital poster by visiting the link below and exploring the Library’s America 250 page, which also features additional curated resources and information on upcoming activities related to the 250th anniversary celebration:
https://www.utrgv.edu/library/single-pages/america-250/index.htm
In addition, the America 250: Celebrating Our Journey to 250 Years! poster is on display at the UTRGV University Library on both the Brownsville and Edinburg campuses. Visitors can view the exhibit on the 3rd floor at each location. The exhibit will be available from May 2026 through September 2026 and is free to attend.

Music in the Chamber with Austin Baroque Orchestra
2026-05-29 19:30 - 20:30 (America/Chicago) | George A. Purefoy Municipal Center, 6101 Frisco Square Blvd., Frisco, TX, 75934, United States
To celebrate America’s 250th anniversary, each concert in the 2026 series features music from a 50-year period in American history, spanning from 1776 to 2026!
Soloists from the renowned Austin Baroque Orchestra present “Close Encounters of the Colonial Kind,” evoking the sonic world of colonial North America in a commemoration of the first 50 years after American independence.
Featuring replicas of instruments from the 18th century and music from the four colonial powers — England, Spain, France, and the Netherlands — listeners will enjoy popular songs by late composers Ignacio Jerusalem, Jean-Baptiste Lully, Jan Pieterszoon Sweelinck, Alexander Reinagle, and more.
Whether sounds from the cathedrals of New Spain, or the Ursuline Convent in New Orleans, or melodies originating in the small settlement of New Amsterdam, or the Revolutionary-War-era streets of Boston, this program invites the audience to consider how musical traditions crossed oceans, transformed cultures, and took root in American soil amid the complexities of colonial life.

American Experiment: Pursuing Our Promise (NARA Exhibit)
2026-05-30 09:00 - 2026-08-02 17:00 (America/Chicago) | LBJ Presidential Library, 2313 Red River St., Austin, TX, 78705, United States
Through an exceptional partnership with the National Archives and Records Administration and the Briscoe Center for American History, the Library showcases extraordinary original documents that have shaped the course of American history. Across four rotating exhibitions, visitors will encounter defining moments—from the Brown v. Board of Education decision and the Fourteenth Amendment to the Louisiana Purchase and the Wright Brothers’ Flying Machine Patent.

On view from June through January, this once-in-a-lifetime experience pairs these iconic artifacts with dynamic public programs featuring leading historians, authors, and thought leaders. Together, they explore how the American story has unfolded over 250 years—and where it may go next.

Mineola Historical Museum Celebrates
2026-06-01 08:00 - 2026-06-30 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Mineola Historical Museum, 114 N Pacific St, Mineola, TX, 75773, United States
The public is invited to pose with the colorful Celebrate America250 signs situated to be able to be seen on Highway 69 from all directions. The history display are included amongst our state award-winning displays showcasing our historic Select Theater (Texas oldest continuously-operating moviehouse), Wisener Field Airport (the oldest privately owned airport still owned by the same family), military contributions, the railroad, commerce, celebrities and schools in our town.

Petits Texans: French Language & History Camp
2026-06-01 09:00 - 2026-07-05 12:00 (America/Chicago) | French Legation State Historic Site, 802 San Marcos Street, Austin, TX, 78702, United States
Petits Texans are invited to join the French Legation’s half day French Language & History Camp. This passport to frontier Texas is lead in partnership with Education Française Austin teachers to guide ages 8 through 10 on a fun learning journey to explore where Texas meets France. Celebrating French and Texan cultures through the lens of history during America 250. Programs and activities include cultural activities from historic games to songs, and crepe making to French language, and everything in between!

Juneteenth Conference
2026-06-04 10:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | TX
The Lone Star College-Tomball Center for Civic Engagement is hosting a virtual Juneteenth Conference on June 4, 2026. This year, our country is celebrating its 250th anniversary. Juneteenth is a defining moment in both U.S. and Texas history. Five years ago, the United States Congress passed legislation to create the Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday. The purpose of this event is to inform the public about this holiday and its place in U.S. and Texas history.
Attendees will be able to:
Trace the history of Juneteenth
Explain what happened on June 19, 1865
Recognize important historical figures associated with Juneteenth
Discuss the future of the Juneteenth holiday and education
This event is free and open to the public.

Legacy in the Making: Scanning and Oral History Recording
2026-06-06 10:00 - 15:00 (America/Chicago) | Levi Jordan Plantation State Historic Site, 10510 FM 524, Brazoria, TX, 77422, United States
Do you have a passed down story to share? Do you have photographs of your ancestors in Brazoria County? Site educators will assist you in creating quality scans and recordings of your passed down stories, artifacts, pictures, and more. You will get full scans and recordings to keep for your records! Timeslots must be requested in advance.
During your time slot you can:
– Have your photographs scanned (photographs should relate to family or local history)
– Record an oral history
– Have an artifact photographed
Request a slot by contacting our staff by calling (979-798-2202). Slots are available at 10am, 12pm, and 2pm on each day the program is held.

In Order of Providence; the Burial of Fannin's Command
2026-06-06 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Presidio La Bahia State Historic Site, 217 Loop 71, Goliad, Texas, 77963, United States
Join us as we commemorate the buiral of the 342 men of Fannin’s Command who were massacred on March 27th 1836 by the Mexican Army and buried on June 3rd 1836 by the Texas Army under Thomas Jefferson Rusk. This event will feature a memorial to the men, and a recreation of the Military Funeral honors given to these men. Detailed Schedule to follow.

Echoes of the Herd: Saving the Southern Plains Bison
2026-06-06 11:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight Ranch State Historic Site, 2000 US HWY 287, Clarendon, TX, 79226, United States
Join us at Goodnight Ranch on Saturday, June 6th, at 11 am for a free Texas America 250 program. Discover how the Goodnights demonstrated patriotism through their conservation of the Southern Plains Bison and reconciliation with Native American cultures in the Texas Panhandle.
Afterward, go on a self-guided tour of the Goodnight house! Do not forget to wear red, white, and blue for this special occasion!

Echoes of the Herd: Saving the Southern Plains Bison
2026-06-06 11:00 - 14:00 (America/Chicago) | Charles and Mary Ann Goodnight Ranch State Historic Site, 2000 US HWY 287, Clarendon, TX, 79226, United States
Join us at Goodnight Ranch on Saturday, June 6th, at 11 am for a free Texas America 250 program. Discover how the Goodnights demonstrated patriotism through their conservation of the Southern Plains Bison and reconciliation with Native American cultures in the Texas Panhandle.
Afterward, go on a self-guided tour of the Goodnight house! Do not forget to wear red, white, and blue for this special occasion!
This event is presented as part of Texas America250, commemorating the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence.

Bold Vines, Bold Ideas: Innovation
2026-06-06 15:00 - 17:00 (America/Chicago) | Museum of Western Art, 1550 Bandera Highway, Kerrville, TX, 78028, United States
Bold Vines, Bold Ideas: Innovation in the Texas Wine Industry. 3 to 5 p.m. The Science, Grit and Creativity Behind a Growing Industry. John Rivenburgh, Texas wine incubator and owner of Rivenburgh Wines and Kerrville Hills Winery, will give a two-part presentation on the development of the Texas wine industry and how his incubator program has spawned dozens of area wineries. Following a break, a panel presentation featuring several area wineries will be held. Museum of Western Art, 1550 Bandera Highway, Kerrville. museumofwesternart.com

Fredericksburg Music Festival & School ‘AMERICA250’ ‘Music Connects Us’
2026-06-07 08:00 - 2026-06-21 17:00 (America/Chicago) | St Joseph’s Halle, 212 W San Antonio St, Fredericksburg, TX, 78624, United States
TexasCellos Returns to Fredericksburg with the Second Annual Fredericksburg Music Festival & School
June 7–21, 2026
WHAT: Presented by Texas Cellos, the festival continues its vision of creating an international
European-style artistic gathering in the heart of Texas wine country — combining world-class
music making with the intimacy, atmosphere, and cultural character of Fredericksburg.
WHERE: Across fifteen days, the festival will present thirteen concerts and public events at
historic venues throughout the region, including Becker Vineyards, Marienkirche at St. Mary’s Church, Altstadt Brewery, St Joseph’s Halle, and the Historic Nimitz Ballroom.
“The festival is built around the idea of evenings of music, wine, conversation, and artistic
exchange,” said founder and creative director Joseph Kuipers. “We wanted to create something immersive and human — a place where audiences encounter great artists up close, where students and faculty work side by side, and where the atmosphere itself becomes part of the
artistic experience.”
WHO: This season welcomes 81 registered students alongside an internationally recognized faculty representing many of the leading voices in today’s cello world.
WHEN: Festival Highlights
Opening Gala at Becker Vineyards
June 7, 2026
The festival opens among the vineyards and lavender fields of Becker Vineyards with an evening
of music, wine, and celebration featuring faculty artists and festival participants.
“Cello Duello”
June 13, 2026 | Historic Nimitz Ballroom
Acclaimed German cellists Jens Peter Maintz and Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt present their
internationally celebrated duo project Cello Duello in a rare Texas appearance, followed by a
courtyard wine reception and artist gathering.
Instrument Exhibition & Symposium
June 13–14, 2026
A public exhibition featuring fine cellos and violins from leading contemporary makers,
alongside discussions and presentations devoted to craftsmanship, sound, and restoration.
Bach & Bordeaux
June 20, 2026 | Becker Vineyards Lavender House
Young artists of the festival perform selections from the Six Suites for Solo Cello by J.S. Bach in
an informal rotating concert format designed to blend music with the relaxed atmosphere of the
vineyard.
80Cellos ‘AMERICA the BEAUTIFUL’
June 21, 2026 | Altstadt Brewery
The festival concludes with a large-scale cello celebration featuring faculty and students
performing together in an open European-style workshop and concert environment.
WHO: International Faculty & Artists
The 2026 faculty includes internationally renowned performers and pedagogues from leading
conservatories and concert stages around the world, including:
• Richard Aaron — San Francisco Conservatory of Music
• Jens Peter Maintz — Berlin University of the Arts & Escuela Superior de Música Reina
Sofía
• Clive Greensmith — Colburn School; former cellist of the Tokyo Quartet
• Wolfgang Emanuel Schmidt — Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar, Berlin
University of the Arts & Kronberg Academy
• Lluís Claret — international soloist and pedagogue
• Valentin Radutiu — Principal Cellist of the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin and
Professor at Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music
• Scott Tixier — six-time Grammy Award-winning artist
• Joseph Kuipers — founder and creative director of the festival
Programs throughout the festival will range from Spanish and Eastern European repertoire to
Bach, chamber music, contemporary works, and genre-crossing collaborations.
Tickets & Information
Complete schedule, artist information, and ticket links are available at:
Fredericksburg Music Festival & School Schedule
About TexasCellos
Founded in Dallas in 2020, Texas Cellos is a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering
meaningful encounters between artists and audiences through concerts, educational programs,
festivals, and community engagement initiatives across Texas and beyond.
The festival runs every day through the final 80CELLOS ‘AMERICA the BEAUTIFUL’ concert on June 21 at 4:00 pm.

ART+HISTORY: Trumbull's Declaration of Independence
2026-06-10 19:00 - 21:00 (America/Detroit) | Virtual Event
On Wednesday, June 10, popular Smithsonian Associates lecturer Paul Glenshaw will take us behind the canvas – revealing the surprising history of the Declaration of Independence artwork, its connections to Thomas Jefferson, its origins in Paris, and the artistic choices that transformed a pivotal moment in American history into a national icon.

Texas Juneteenth Program
2026-06-13 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Chicago) | Pioneer Farms, 10621 Pioneer Farms Drive, Austin, TX, 78754, United States
Join us for a special program about the history of Juneteenth with sneak-preview tours of the Freedman Farm site that is that is under restoration, a reading of the Emancipation Proclamation and a special arts program. Advance registration for this free program can be accomplished. A lunch is available for an extra charge.

America 250 Revolutionary War Patriot Plaque Dedication
2026-06-13 10:00 (America/Chicago) | Veterans Memorial, Soldier Springs Park, 109 Thrush Street, Weatherford, TX, 76086, United States
We will be dedicating a National Society Daughters of the American Revolutionary War Plaque at Veterans Memorial. Speakers will discuss how our town, county and state are celebrating America 250.

Stories of the Enslaved at San Felipe de Austin
2026-06-13 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | San Felipe de Austin State Historic Site, 220 2nd St., San Felipe, TX, 77473, United States
As we approach the Juneteenth holiday, please join us for a celebration of the lives of those that lived in San Felipe de Austin 200 years ago under the bonds of enslavement.
Hear how these people impacted the story of San Felipe de Austin and their own unique personal histories. While you’re here, be sure to check out our temporary exhibit, “Bypassed by Freedom but Building a Legacy,” on display in the museum gallery from Memorial Day weekend through Labor Day.

Juneteenth Reading of General Order No. 3
2026-06-13 10:00 - 16:00 (America/Chicago) | Levi Jordan Plantation State Historic Site, 10510 FM 524, Brazoria, TX, 77422, United States
Join us at the Levi Jordan Plantation State Historic Site for a commemoration of Juneteenth and the reading of General Order No. 3, which ordered the emancipation of all of the enslaved people in Texas. Federal troops, including the United States Colored Troops, entered Texas in June of 1865 and announced the freedom of the enslaved people in Texas.
Program begins at 10 am with a reading of General Order No. 3 at 11 am and 2 pm from Allen Mack, a living history interpreter from the United States Colored Troops. The 2 pm reading will be followed by an interview with Allen Mack. There will be demonstrations throughout the day from 10 am to 4 pm.
This program will be led by site staff and Allen Mack (Pvt. Mack), the founder of the Living History Foundation. Allen Mack (Pvt. Mack) has always carried a deep appreciation for history, though it was later in life that he fully recognized just how powerful that passion truly was. His journey unfolded gradually, but it found clear direction when he began volunteering with Texas Parks & Wildlife’s Buffalo Soldiers Heritage & Outreach Program. What started as service quickly became a calling. After three fulfilling years as a volunteer, he was offered a full-time position with the department an opportunity that felt like the realization of a lifelong dream.
For Pvt. Mack, the work has never been just a job. It is a platform to educate, inspire, and connect using history to celebrate the rich cultural heritage of this nation while bringing understanding, pride, and joy to people of all ages.
After seven years with Texas Parks & Wildlife, Pvt. Mack stepped away to serve his community through the Living History Foundation (LHF), a nonprofit he helped build with a clear and powerful vision. Through LHF, he focused on mentoring emerging interpreters and educators, teaching them how to research and share the often-overlooked stories of people of color, women, individuals with disabilities, and other marginalized communities. At the heart of this mission was a deeply held belief: no child should ever grow up wishing they were someone else simply because they were never taught who they truly are.
After four years away, Pvt. Mack has returned to Texas Parks & Wildlife, bringing with him expanded perspective, renewed purpose, and an even deeper commitment to inclusive storytelling. At the same time, he continues to build and support the Living History Foundation, working tirelessly to ensure that history is not only preserved, but shared in a way that empowers, uplifts, and inspires future generations.
