AUSTIN – Both Bee and Karnes counties have been awarded major funding to preserve their historic courthouses following the Texas Historical Commission’s July 31 quarterly meeting. Together, the neighboring South Texas counties secured more than $4.2 million out of $96,252,087 in matching preservation grants distributed statewide to 25 counties during Round 14 of the Texas Historic Courthouse Preservation Program.
The funding comes in the form of emergency grants specifically designated to repair critical issues that have developed since both courthouses underwent previous full restorations. Bee County was awarded $2,820,345 for its 1912 courthouse, receiving the second-highest grant amount among the seven Texas counties awarded emergency funding for previously restored structures. Karnes County secured $1,447,724 in emergency funding to address needs at its historic 1895 courthouse.
Grant determinations for previously restored courthouses were scored using 14 specific evaluation criteria, including building age, endangerment level, historical designations, project proposals, local support and county revenue.
Funding for Round 14 was made possible by a $100 million appropriation passed by the 89th Texas Legislature, with an additional $4 million expected from the Historic Infrastructure Sustainability Trust Fund in September 2026. The legislature created the preservation program in 1999 to reverse courthouse deterioration across Texas, providing over $500 million in grants to 118 historic courthouses to date.
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd,
racist or sexually-oriented language. PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK. Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another
person will not be tolerated. Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone
or anything. Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism
that is degrading to another person. Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on
each comment to let us know of abusive posts. Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness
accounts, the history behind an article.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.