Statewide Transportation Enhancement Program

Statewide Transportation Enhancement Project Examples

Category 6: Historic Preservation

Includes identification, evaluation, documentation, protection, rehabilitation and restoration of historic properties which have a relationship to the surface transportation system.
Historic properties must be listed in or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.
All work must comply with the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Rehabilitation and Guidelines for Rehabilitating Historic Properties of the U.S. Secretary of the Interior's Standards for Historic Preservation Projects.

Example Project #1

Project Name: Texas Historical Roadside Marker Restoration Program,

Location: All counties, historical markers statewide adjacent to roadways.

Project Description: For this project, the Texas Historical Commission (THC) led an effort in rehabilitating and cataloging historical roadside markers throughout the state. The markers are important to the communities in which they are located as well as for tourist, in that they provide information about the communities and enhance the traveler's appreciation of Texas history. This project included the creation of a comprehensive inventory database of all roadside historical markers. For more information, visit the THC website.

District or Division: STATEWIDE

Federal Funds: $337,929

(click on a photo to see an enlarged version)

	Roadside historical markers were restored statewide to provide information about historic sites, such as this one in Johnson City commemorating cattle trail drives.
	Restoration consisted of cleaning and re-etching the marker's background, making signs legible again, like this one outside the boyhood home of Lyndon Baines Johnson.
	Texas State Historical Markers, such as this one at the Kulman-King House in Boerne, are issued through the Texas Historical Commission.
	Inscriptions from restored markers, like the one at the Meyer Hotel and stagecoach stop in Comfort, are recorded and entered into the on-line comprehensive database.

Example Project #2

Project Name: Old Blanco County Visitors Center

Location: City of Blanco

Project Description: This project utilizes an historic 1885 building, listed in the National Register of Historic Places, by restoring and renovating it for re-use as a visitors and community center. The building ceased to serve as the county courthouse in 1889, when the county seat was relocated to Johnson City. Though the building served many functions throughout its years, it eventually fell into a state of disrepair. Through community efforts, matching funds were raised to save the structure that once again serves the community for which it is named.

District or Division: Austin District

Federal Funds: $360,000

(click on a photo to see an enlarged version)

Governor George W. Bush appeared as the guest speaker at the rededication ceremonies honoring the restoration efforts the City of Blanco made to save their historic building.

Texas has a wealth of significant historic structures available for adaptive reuse, such as this one that the City of Blanco converted into a visitor/discovery center.

Community support is always important for the success of a project, as shown by this view of just a few of the people who attended the rededication ceremonies June 1, 1998

Example Project #3

Project Name: Port Isabel Lighthouse and Visitor's Center

Location: Port Isabel

Project Description: This project restored the circa 1853 Port Isabel Lighthouse and reconstructed lighthouse keeper's cottage for use as a visitor's center and living history museum. Located in the smallest Texas State Park, the lighthouse is one of the oldest in the state and provides a panoramic view of the Laguna Madre and Queen Isabella causeway of South Padre Island.

District or Division: Pharr District

Federal Funds: $487,692

(click on a photo to see an enlarged version)

The reconstructed lighthouse keeper's cottage adjacent to the Port Isabel Lighthouse serves the area as a visitor's center.

Looking down from of a height of more than 50 ft. the lighthouse perch is a popular spot for photographers.

Located at the historic Fort Polk site, the Port Isabel lighthouse is the only lighthouse in the state open to the general public.

The lighthouse tower, newly renovated, once again allows the public access up its 74 winding wrought-iron steps. The entrance to the light is by ladder.

Click below to see another project category:

1. Bike & Pedestrian Facilities
2. Safety/Education for Pedestrian & Bicyclist
3. Acquisition of Scenic or Historic Properties
4. Scenic & Historic Highway Programs
5. Landscaping & Beautification
6. Historic Preservation

7. Historic Transportation Facilities
8. Preservation of Abandoned RR Corridors
9. Control & Removal of Outdoor Advertising
10. Archaeological Planning/Research
11. Environmental Mitigation
12. Transportation Museums

	Governor George W. Bush appeared as the guest speaker at the rededication ceremonies honoring the restoration efforts the City of Blanco made to save their historic building.
	Texas has a wealth of significant historic structures available for adaptive reuse, such as this one that the City of Blanco converted into a visitor/discovery center.
	Community support is always important for the success of a project, as shown by this view of just a few of the people who attended the rededication ceremonies June 1, 1998

	The reconstructed lighthouse keeper's cottage adjacent to the Port Isabel Lighthouse serves the area as a visitor's center.
	Looking down from of a height of more than 50 ft. the lighthouse perch is a popular spot for photographers.
	Located at the historic Fort Polk site, the Port Isabel lighthouse is the only lighthouse in the state open to the general public.
	The lighthouse tower, newly renovated, once again allows the public access up its 74 winding wrought-iron steps. The entrance to the light is by ladder.