TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Texas Treasure Tune-Up THC Business Award’s Upgrades Result in Smoother Operation by Andy Rhodes
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he Texas Historical Commission’s (THC) Texas Treasure Business Award (TTBA) stands out from most of the agency’s programs by honoring active establishments that are rooted in both the present and the past. Unlike more traditionally preserved historic things such as houses, forts, battlefields, artifacts, and documents, this program recognizes historic businesses while they are still in operation, treating them as living history that should be preserved for future generations. The TTBA program was created in 2005 to recognize businesses that have stood the test of time and made exceptional historic contributions to communities across the state. To qualify, businesses must have been in continuous operation for at least 50 years. Many of them have been owned by a single family through the generations. Last year, the TTBA received a necessary tune-up, as program staff implemented upgrades to make the process of nominating a business much smoother. The
improvements also help collect comprehensive information, providing a meaningful glimpse into the labor involved with keeping a business in operation for half a century or more. New questions on the nomination form ask, “How has the industry changed since you first opened?” “Does your building have a personality of its own?” and “How does your business reflect your community’s values?” The stories they tell are shared on social media, where the public can participate by adding their own memories alongside the owners’. It’s not uncommon for the locals to have a personal stake in the historic legacy of hometown businesses. Another update: The program now accepts nominations four times a year to guarantee faster processing behind the scenes. In addition, TTBA staff engages more with agency partners. Since it can be difficult to source the necessary archival documentation that proves a business’ founding date, staff connects Texans with regional THC partners and community