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.
Tropical Trail Region
1 South Ringgold Street Rio Grande City, TX 78582 (956) 716-6700
Lakes Trail Region
2700 Lemmon Avenue Southwest corner of North Central Expressway Dallas, TX 75201 Website
Independence Trail Region
Arthur and Sauliner Streets Houston, TX 77019
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
Hill Country Trail Region
1004 W 24th St Austin, TX 78705 (512) 220-0953
Forest Trail Region
1 Peter Whetstone Square Marshall, TX 75671 (903) 935-8417 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
2300 Rosewood Avenue Austin, Texas 78702 (512) 974-6700 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
3805 Red River Street Austin, Texas 78751 (512) 474-5198 Website
Pecos Trail Region
301 E. 3rd Street Fort Stockton, TX 79735 (432) 336-2400 Website
Independence Trail Region
3204 Ennis Street Houston, TX 77004 (713) 526-2441 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
900 Chicon St. Austin, Texas 78702 (512) 505-3000 Website
Plains Trail Region
618 North Main Street Borger, TX 79008 (806) 273-0130 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
801 E. Cesar E. Chavez Blvd San Antonio, TX 78205 (210) 458-2300 Website
Forest Trail Region
Hwy 80 E 7631 Private Rd. Hawkins, TX 75765 903-730-4890 or 800-735-2989 Website
Lakes Trail Region
110 Aiken Street Waxahachie, TX 75165 (972) 937-5167 Website
Lakes Trail Region
2618 Warren Ave. Wheatley Place Historic District Dallas, TX 75215 (214) 670-3687 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
107 King William Street San Antonio , TX 78204 (210) 224-6163 Website
Mountain Trail Region
2000 Texas Ave. El Paso, TX 79901 (915) 217-1135 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
131 N. Guadalupe Street San Marcos, TX 78667 (512) 353-3300 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
2313 Red River St. Austin, TX 78705 (512) 721-0200 Website
Independence Trail Region
7234 FM 521 Brazoria, TX 77422 (979) 798-2202 Website
Forest Trail Region
150 Macedonia Lane Hemphill, TX 75948 (409) 787-2641
Mountain Trail Region
3231 Wyoming Avenue El Paso, TX 79903 (915) 566-2407 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
5808 McKinney Falls Parkway Austin, TX 78744 (512) 243-1643 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
593 Peyton Colony Rd. Blanco, TX 78606 (830) 833-4183
Forest Trail Region
311 Main Street Texarkana, TX 75504 (903) 792-7191 Website
Forest Trail Region
400 Micheaux Ave. Palestine, TX 75801 (903) 723-1914 Website
Forest Trail Region
219 State Line Avenue Texarkana, TX 75501 (903) 793-4831 Website
Forest Trail Region
1100 Edmiston Dr. Porth Ag Arena Crockett, TX 75835 (936) 544-2011
Lakes Trail Region
2029 North Main St. Fort Worth, TX 76164 (817) 534-8801 Website
Plains Trail Region
3121 Fourth Street Lubbock, TX 79409 (806) 742-0498 Website
Independence Trail Region
722 Moody Avenue On the Galveston County Courthouse grounds Galveston, TX 77550
Forest Trail Region
204 W. Marshall Pittsburg, TX 75686 (903) 946-3243 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
1601 Navasota Street Austin, Texas 78702 (512) 978-2320 Website
Mountain Trail Region
Bldg 5054 Across from Noel Field Fort Bliss, TX 79916 915-568-4518 or 915-588-8482 Website
Pecos Trail Region
U.S. Hwy 90 and Fort Clark Road Fort Clark Springs, TX 78832 (830) 563-2493 Website
Plains Trail Region
Olaughlin Street Mobeetie, TX 79061 (806) 845-2028 Website
Hill Country Trail Region
1179 San Bernard St. Austin, Texas 78702 (512) 478-7023 Website
Brazos Trail Region
1108 Walnut Street Bastrop, TX 78602 (512) 303-9033
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.