TEXAS

Texas Archeology Month is held each October. For more information, visit: http://www.thc.state.tx.us/archeology/aatam.shtml.

The Texas Archaeology Society Field School is a summer program for kids from elementary to junior high. Learn the ins and outs of archaeology, as well as how people thousands of years ago lived. For more information, visit: http://www.txarch.org/.

Hueco Tanks State Park
The “tanks” at this park, located to the northeast of El Paso, are large, naturally formed rock basins that collect rain water. Throughout the area’s history, Native Americans dwelling here took advantage of this feature and left hundreds of pictographs on the walls of the tanks. Now, the park hosts a wide variety of activities ranging from rock climbing to guided tours focusing on the rich cultural and natural history of the park. Advance reservations are required for tours, so check their website for availability information at http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/spdest/findadest/parks/hueco_tanks/.

The Bosque Museum has a large collection of native American artifacts, firearms used in every major U.S. battle/war, Norweigen artifacts, primitive Texan furniture, textiles, early medical and educational supplies. There is also a recreated archeological site on exhibit, with an educational film. Children under 10 have free admission. Visit their website at http://www.bosquemuseum.org/, or call (254)675-3845.

Brazosport Museum of Natural Science has the largest collection of shells in the Southern United States as well as exhibits on paleontology, archaeology, minerals and other wildlife. This museum was considered to be one of the top ten museums in Texas by the Fromer’s Travel Guide. For more information visit: http://www.bcfas.org/museum/

The Rock Art Foundation works with private landowners to protect ancient rock art found all over the state. For more information, and tour details, visit: http://www.rockart.org/index.html. (Note that their website does not recommend the tours for children under 12, as many sites can only be reached by quite strenuous hikes.).

The Texas Historical Commission excavated two of Texas’ most important archaeological sites relating to the famous French explorer Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. There are seven museums in Texas that are home to a series of exhibits that together tell the story of La Salle’s expedition and the Texas Historical Commission’s excavations. For more information, visit: http://www.thc.state.tx.us/.

The Houston Museum of Natural Science features 12,000 square feet of gallery space highlighting the native peoples of the Americas, from Alaska to Peru, and exploring thousands of years of human history. The brand-new Hall of Paleontology includes dinosaurs with fossilized skin. Searching for Eternity: Life and Death in Ancient Egypt, includes about 100 artifacts. The highlight of the presentation is Ankh-hap, a mummy from the museum's own collection. In addition to a variety of other programs, labs and classes, excursions and family field trips are planned throughout the year. Call (713) 639-4629, or visit: www.hmns.org.

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