Travel Guide
Download African Americans in Texas: A Lasting Legacy (PDF), published in 2011, or request the guide in print.
Journey through African American culture and heritage in Texas — an experience that includes hardships and triumphs, valor and determination, influence and change.
The story of the African American presence in Texas history follows the familiar script written for every other southern region in the nation: slavery brought most African Americans to the state. By the mid-1800s, slavery played an important role in Texas' economic development and, in fact, enslaved African Americans comprised 30 percent of the state's population by 1860. Freedom for the African American in Texas finally arrived on June 19, 1865, known as Juneteenth, and the end of the Civil War. After secession and during reconstruction, federal intervention was required once again to ensure the protection of civil rights in Texas, ushering in an era that saw African Americans helping the Texas economy recover from the Civil War, serving in the state legislature, and helping to guide the state toward a freer, more democratic society.
Their success was short-lived, however, as segregation established a grip on the state that wouldn't be released for another 60 years. Despite what seemed like impossible odds during this period, African Americans in Texas were able to build communities and businesses, allowing economies and cultures to thrive. Today, we recognize the important contributions made by African Americans to Texas by commemorating their heritage in our museums, with our celebrations, and in our history books.
Download African Americans in Texas: A Lasting Legacy (PDF), published in 2011, or request the guide in print.
Go mobile with the African Americans in Texas mobile tour, featuring a rich blend of images, videos, first-person interviews, maps, and useful visitor information for exploring historical sites across Texas.
Independence Trail Region
117 S. Bell Drive Texas City, TX 77590
Independence Trail Region
17370 Sweed Road Brenham, TX 77880 (936) 878-2910
Lakes Trail Region
3536 Grand Avenue Dallas, TX 75210 (214) 565-9026 Website
Lakes Trail Region
317 West Mulberry Street Denton, TX 76201 (940) 349-2850 Website
Lakes Trail Region
116 Elm Street Fort Worth, TX 76102 (817) 332-5071 Website
Independence Trail Region
500 Clay Street Houston, TX 77002 (713) 652-0738 Website
Independence Trail Region
2328 Broadway Street Galveston, TX 77550 (409) 765-3402 Website
Forest Trail Region
101 N. East Street Atlanta, TX 75551 (903) 796-1892 Website
Independence Trail Region
23400 Park Rd. 12 Washington, TX 77880 (936) 878-2214 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
1308 Springdale Road Austin, Texas 78721 (512) 978-2320 Website
Pecos Trail Region
Hwy 3348 3.1 miles south of Brackettville Brackettville, TX 78832 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
1800 N Congress Ave. Austin, TX 78701 512-936-8746 or 866-369-7108 Website
Lakes Trail Region
2501 Flora Street Dallas, TX 75201 (972) 925-1200 Website
Brazos Trail Region
500 E. Pruitt Street Bryan, TX 77803 (979) 775-3961 Website
Mountain Trail Region
3700 E Yandell Drive El Paso, TX 79903 (915) 842-8200 Website
Mountain Trail Region
Robert E Lee Gate Fort Bliss El Paso, TX 79936 (915) 568-3390
Independence Trail Region
3816 Caroline Houston, TX 77004 (713) 942-8920 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
200 Martin Luther King Dr. San Marcos, TX 78666 (512) 393-8421 Website
Plains Trail Region
1719 Avenue A Lubbock, TX 79403 806-928-4268 or 806-773-6046 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
West Lynn and 10th Street Austin, TX 78701 (512) 441-5212 Website
Mountain Trail Region
3700 E Yandell Drive El Paso, TX 79903 (915) 842-8200 Website
Lakes Trail Region
300 N. Houston Street Dallas, TX 75202 (214) 741-7500 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
2211 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd Austin, TX 787802 (512) 472-9748 Website
Lakes Trail Region
2500 Block Elm, 2509-2513 Main Street Dallas, TX 75202 (214) 984-7300 Website
Lakes Trail Region
317 West Mulberry Street Denton, TX 76201 (940) 349-2865 Website
Forest Trail Region
Steen Library, Second Floor, Stephen F. Austin University 1936 North St. Nacogdoches, TX 75961 (936) 468-4100 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
3304 East 12th Austin, Texas 78721 (512) 978-2320 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
4805 Heflin Lane Austin, TX 78721 (512) 926-4759
Pecos Trail Region
U.S. Hwy 90 and Fort Clark Road Brackettville, TX 78832 (830) 563-2493 Website
Forts Trail Region
630 S. Oakes St. San Angelo, TX 76903 (325) 481-2646 Website
Mountain Trail Region
101 Lt. Henry Flipper Drive Fort Davis, TX 79734 (432) 426-3224 Website
Forts Trail Region
1701 N. US Hwy 283 Albany, TX 76430 (325) 762-3592 Website
Pecos Trail Region
629 Fort Lancaster Road Sheffield, TX 79781 (432) 836-4391 Website
Forts Trail Region
7066 FM 864 Fort McKavett, TX 76841 (325) 396-2358 Website
Forts Trail Region
228 State Park Road 61 Jacksboro, TX 76458 (940) 567-3506 Website
Tropical Trail Region
1 South Ringgold Street Rio Grande City, TX 78582 (956) 716-6700
Independence Trail Region
Arthur and Sauliner Streets Houston, TX 77019
Independence Trail Region
722 Moody Galveston, Texas 77550 (409) 766-2329 Website
Tropical Trail Region
6300 Ocean Dr. Corpus Christi, TX 78412 (361) 825-4500 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
1165 Angelina St Austin, TX 78702 (512) 974-4926 Website
Watch the African Americans in Texas video series on the Texas Historical Commission's YouTube Channel or here on the site below to learn more about African American cultural heritage in Texas.