The Heritage Society and Author/Professor Stephen Fox will explore the early twentieth-century Texan town type of the bayside resort.

The tour will include an enlightenment of the “Save the Luther” preservation efforts of the 1903 Luther Hotel, a visit to the City by the Sea Museum, lunch at the historic 1907 Hotel Blessing Hotel in Blessing, Texas, and a concluding wine reception at a charming location.

Dates for Cub Scouts (Grades 2 - 5):

• Saturday, May 6, 10 AM PM – Noon  

Tour and activity led by Martha Whiting-Goddard, a descendant of Reverend Jack Yates.

Popcorn and punch will be served.

Badge Activities: State Symbols • Name the state bird, flower, and motto. • Sing or recite the words of “Texas, Our Texas.” State History • Texas has been part of six countries. Name them, and tell at least two of the major events that occurred in Texas while part of each country. • Name a famous Texan. Tell why this person is famous and what you like or dislike about this person. • Visit an historical place in Texas. Tell about the important events that happened there. State Culture • Read a story about any Texas subject (fiction or non-fiction). Tell what you learned from the story. • Find out about the American Indians who lived near your community at any time. Tell about some of their history and customs.

Celebrate Women’s History Month and Texas History Month with a wine reception, presentation, and book signing about Texas Governor Ann Richards

co-hosted by:
Margaret Justus, Richards’ former press secretary

6 PM, Tuesday, March 28

The Heritage Society, 1100 Bagby Street, Houston, TX 77002

Free to THS Members, $10 for Non Members

Margaret Justus is an Austin communications consultant and a former television news journalist who grew up in Kansas City and has lived in Texas for more than 34 years—20 years in Austin and 14 years in Houston.  Justus served as Ann Richards’ deputy press secretary and is on the Advisory Council of The Heritage Society!

Justus founded the Ann Richards Legacy Project in 2021, a nonprofit that created and displayed 300 Ann Richards street banners in major Texas cities across the state. The banners honored the 30th anniversary of the inauguration of Ann Richards. 

Justus then collaborated with philanthropists Lynne Dobson and Greg Wooldridge to publish The One Ann Only: Wit and Wisdom from Texas Governor Ann Richards.

One of the most unforgettable politicians in American history, Dorothy Ann Willis Richards (1933–2006) was the first woman to be elected, in her own right, governor of Texas; she served from 1991 to 1995. Richards transformed the state government to resemble the diverse population of Texas, appointing a record number of women, people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ community members to Texas boards and state agencies.

Governor Richards was known as much for her humor as for her politics. Her witty one-liners, shrewdly delivered with a thick Waco accent, could bring down the house. Add in her striking appearance—big white hair and turquoise eyes—and her presence left an indelible impression.

With a thoughtful foreword by award-winning novelist Sarah Bird, The One Ann Only presents Ann’s famous witticisms alongside striking images throughout her life and political career by Texas photographers. This little book can serve as a Texas-sized inspiration to everyone, especially current and future public servants, teachers, parents, and people in recovery.

Each October, the Texas Historical Commission celebrates the spirit of discovering Texas' past. It's an opportunity for Texans to understand the depth and richness of our heritage. 

Celebrate with us on Saturday, October 15, from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., at 1100 Bagby Street for an Archaeology Day with free hands-on activities and demonstrations, activity kits, and a museum gallery tour about Texas history.  We will also be making Smores for dessert! No R.S.V.P. needed, just bring the family, class, or troop at 1:00 p.m.

This event is generously being sponsored by Cypress Environmental Consulting and Colliers Engineering & Design. This STEM event is being directed by senior archeologist Kaity Ulewicz, MSc, RPA who is a member of the following professional organizations: American Anthropological Institution, Archaeological Institute of America, Council of Texas Archaeologists, Register of Public Archaeologists, Society for American Archaeology, and Texas Archaeological Society.

Big Wonderful Thing: A History of Texas

Join author Stephen Harrigan in an interview by the Honorable Ken Wise of the popular podcast “Wise About Texas”.

Co-Chairs: Gwen and Ed Emmett & Angela and Will Cannady

Master of Ceremonies: Frank Billingsley

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6

11:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

THE BRIAR CLUB, 2603 TIMMONS LANE

Heritage Award Recipients: To Be Announced Soon

Stephen Harrigan was born in Oklahoma City in 1948 and has lived in Texas since the age of five, growing up in Abilene and Corpus Christi. He is a longtime writer for Texas Monthly, and his articles and essays have appeared in a wide range of other publications as well, including The Atlantic, Outside, The New York Times Book Review, The Wall Street Journal, The Washington Post, Conde Nast Traveler, Audubon, Travel Holiday, Life, American History, National Geographic and Slate.

Harrigan is the author of twelve books of fiction and non-fiction, including The Gates of the Alamo, which became a New York Times bestseller and Notable Book, and received a number of awards, including the TCU Texas Book Award, the Western Heritage Award from the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, and the Spur Award for Best Novel of the West.

Big Wonderful Thing, a sweeping narrative of Texas from prehistory to the present, was published in 2019 by the University of Texas Press. In a review for The Wall Street Journal, Willard Spiegelman noted that the book is “brimming with sass, intelligence, trenchant analysis, literary acumen and juicy details. . . It is popular history at its best.” And Michael Schaub, in his review for NPR, wrote that “It’s hard to think of another writer with as much Lone Star credibility as Stephen Harrigan. . . Harrigan, essentially, is to Texas literature what Willie Nelson is to Texas music.”

On Saturday, May 26, families will gather at The Heritage Society in Downtown Houston to learn about pioneering Texans in the 1800s through outdoor hands-on activities focused on German and African-American Texas history.  The children’s event is free and will be held from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., at 1100 Bagby Street.

“We tell everyone’s stories through the lens of archeology,” Archaeology Now Houston’s executive director, Rebecca Lao says.  “What’s more important than knowing where you came from is knowing where others came from because ultimately, we get a better understanding of who Texans all are.”

“Partnering with Archaeology Now Houston to teach kids about Texas’ multicultural identities for Texas History Month provides families constructive quality time together on our historical campus.” The Heritage Society’s executive director, Alison Bell says.  “Our Connally Plaza will be filled with hands-on activities that will make them feel like a time-traveler visiting a rustic colony and receive a free tour of 1823 Old Place and of our replica of the Duncan General Store built circa 1870s.”

“Our goal is to reach out to Houston with events about our many pasts.” says Lao.  The event is being hosted by Archaeology Now Houston, formed in 1967, by Dominique de Menil, and served as an academic organization centered at Rice University.