For more than a century, the Dallas Historical Society has worked to collect, preserve, and share the stories of Dallas and Texas. From nearly three million historic photographs, documents, artifacts, and personal records to exhibitions, educational programs, and public events, DHS connects people with the history that shaped the place we call home.
Our work begins with preservation, but it does not end there. History is most powerful when people have the opportunity to experience it, ask questions, and see themselves within the larger story of their community. Through our collections and programs at the Hall of State, we work to ensure that the history entrusted to our care remains both protected and accessible.
COLLECTIONS & PRESERVATION
At the heart of the Dallas Historical Society is a collection of nearly three million items spanning the history of Dallas and Texas.
Together, these photographs, documents, artifacts, books, textiles, and personal records tell stories both extraordinary and everyday, from the people who came to Texas before it became a Republic to the growth of Dallas into a major commercial and cultural center.
Every object represents a real person, place, moment, or experience. DHS works to preserve these pieces of our shared history, so that the stories they hold are not lost to time and can continue to inform how we understand Dallas and Texas today.
EDUCATION
History becomes more meaningful when students can experience it beyond the pages of a textbook.
Each year, the Dallas Historical Society serves approximately 15,000 students, with more than half receiving free or discounted educational programming. Through the Access to History program, teachers can choose from experiences offered at the Hall of State or in the classroom, connecting students with Dallas and Texas history through tours, performances, exhibitions, events, and other initiatives.
Programs are aligned with the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) curriculum standards and are designed to complement classroom learning. Experiences such as our historic character program bring the past to life as costumed interpreters share the stories and experiences of people from another time.
By making history tangible and engaging, DHS helps students understand that the history they study did not happen somewhere else. It happened here, in the communities and places around them.
EXHIBITIONS
The objects in our collection are meant to tell stories.
DHS draws upon its extensive collection of Dallas and Texas history to create exhibitions at the Hall of State that give visitors opportunities to encounter original objects and explore the people, events, and ideas that shaped our city and state.
Through our Texas Treasures program, companies and institutions throughout Dallas can also display objects from the collection in specially designed cases, bringing pieces of our shared history beyond the walls of the Hall of State and into the community.
PUBLIC PROGRAMMING
History belongs to everyone.
DHS brings historians, authors, students, educators, and community members together to explore the many stories that make up Dallas and Texas history. Programs range from lectures, panel discussions, book signings, performances, workshops, classes, and hands-on activities.
RESEARCH
Preserving history also means making it available for discovery.
The Dallas Historical Society's collection serves as a resource for researchers, historians, educators, students, authors, and members of the public seeking to better understand Dallas and Texas history.
Research assistance and access to the collection are available through phone and email requests or in person by appointment.
We preserve history so it can continue to be discovered, understood, and shared.
From protecting a one-of-a-kind historic document to introducing a student to the story of their city for the first time, every part of our work serves the same purpose: keeping the stories of Dallas and Texas alive and connecting them with the people they belong to.
Preserve Our History. Share Its Story.
The Dallas Historical Society collects, preserves, and exhibits the unique heritage of Dallas and Texas to educate and inspire present and future generations. Vision statement: The Dallas Historical Society endeavors to be the preeminent resource to explore, preserve, and instill appreciation for the diverse history of Dallas and Texas. Remembering Dallas' past builds her future.
The Dallas Historical Society is committed to preserving the history of Dallas and Texas and ensuring that history remains accessible to the community. Your gift supports two essential areas of our work: caring for our historic collections and expanding access to educational experiences.
Our collections require ongoing, specialized care. Historic photographs, documents, books, textiles, and artifacts need archival-quality storage materials and proper environmental protection to slow deterioration and preserve them for future research, exhibitions, and educational programs. For example, archival-quality folders and boxes help extend the life of paper collections, while photo-safe materials protect historic photographs over time.
Your support also helps us welcome thousands of students to the Hall of State through our field trip program. Funding helps provide educational programming and reduce transportation barriers for schools that might otherwise be unable to visit, giving more students the opportunity to experience Dallas and Texas history beyond the classroom.
Your gift helps us preserve the history in our care today and make sure it can be experienced, studied, and shared tomorrow.
Through partnerships with other community agents, DHS seeks to eliminate the barriers of location and audience. These partnerships will help us to reach a broader and different audience than we could achieve alone. In exchange, DHS provides an avenue for partners to reach new audiences as well through our extensive mailing list and membership. Through technological improvements DHS has made both during the pandemic and ongoing, we are able to reach and include audiences that may not be able to attend events in person. In addition, the new technology has provided captions to assist hearing impaired audiences and we continue to find ways to bridge the gaps and provide equitable access to all.
Organization name
Dallas Historical Society
Tax id (EIN)
75-0851204
Causes
Education - K-12
Operating Budget
$1,000,000 - $2,999,999
Counties Served
Dallas, Hood, Wise, Tarrant, Somervell, Rockwall, Parker, Palo Pinto, Navarro, Montague, Kaufman, Johnson, Hunt, Grayson, Fannin, Erath, Ellis, Denton, Cooke, Collin
BIPOC Serving
Black or African American, Hispanic or Latinx
BIPOC Leadership
Executive Director/CEO
Address
PO BOX 150038