The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
"The Story Of Texas"

In 1996, former Texas Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock shared his dream for a state history museum to be built in Austin, in the capital city of Texas. On April 28, 2001, the Grand Opening Celebration of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, his dream became a reality. The Museum, located in downtown Austin in the Capitol Complex, tells the "Story of Texas" through exhibits, object theaters, films and interactive computer displays.

The State Preservation Board and construction management firm Thos. S. Byrne, Inc., oversaw the construction of the Museum by Constructors & Associates, Inc. The Museum was designed by E. Verner Johnson and Associates of Boston with associate architect HKS, Inc. of Dallas. The exterior of the Museum is clad in Sunset Red granite (from the same quarry as the granite of the Texas Capitol) and is topped by a majestic copper dome. Six sculpture panels on the front of the building evoke different chapters of the exciting story of Texas, including Native American knowledge of the land, the aftermath of the Alamo, westward expansion of railroads and cattle drives, immigration and the growth of commerce, the oil boom and the challenge of space frontiers. Visitors can walk under a monumental 35-foot tall bronze star, the highlight of the Museum's Lone Star Plaza. The six flags of Texas, flying on 50-foot tall flagpoles, frame this spectacular entry to the Museum.

The Museum's expansive lobby features a dramatic, four-story rotunda with a stunning granite staircase. A unique 40-foot diameter terrazzo design is centered in the floor of the rotunda. The intricate design by Robert T. Ritter incorporates 47 colors to depict a campfire scene with enduring themes from Texas' past. Circling the perimeter of the design are the words: Born Around the Campfires of Our Past -- The Story of Texas. As visitors pass through the rotunda, they enter the Grand Lobby and stand on a polished granite map of Texas, which is approximately 50 feet in diameter.

The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum has three floors of engaging, state-of-the-art exhibits and 17 different media and interactive experiences that trace Texas history from before European exploration to recent times. A temporary exhibit gallery — The Albert and Ethel Herzstein Hall of Special Exhibitions — on the first floor also features short-term exhibits on topics and themes related to Texas and its history. The Museum boasts Austin's only IMAX® Theatre with 2-D and 3-D capabilities, as well as a multimedia special effects Texas Spirit Theater -- the biggest one of its kind in Texas. Other Museum amenities include a 200-seat indoor/outdoor Cafe, the Museum Store, classrooms and an underground parking garage that can accommodate 476 vehicles.

For everyone in Texas and the Texan in everyone, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum serves as a tribute to Texas' heritage and a home for "The Story of Texas."