Texas became the 28th state in the U.S. in 1845, formerly an independent country known as the Republic of Texas after breaking from Mexico in 1836. Before that, it was first the home of several Native American tribes, including the Coahuiltecan, Karankawa, and Atakapa peoples. And with its shared border with Mexico, the Lone Star State has developed a rich Mexican American heritage that adds another layer of diversity to its historical and cultural makeup.
There is distinct history behind nearly every aspect of Texas culture, whether it’s the deep-rooted Western rodeo scene, the beloved steakhouse cuisine, or the state’s key role in the development of the oil and gas industry. Whatever catches your interest, it’s easy to infuse a touch of Texas’ legacy into an event, whether that’s by hosting at a century-old hotel, arranging a carriage ride through storied city streets, or gathering in an expansive museum that details the state’s evolution over time.
“The American Quarter Horse Hall of Fame & Museum (AQHA) was established with the goal of preserving and promoting the American quarter horse’s rich history and cultural significance in the equine industry,” explains Ashley G. Almanza, community outreach liaison for the Amarillo museum. “The American quarter horse—known as ‘the horse that settled the West’—can be traced back to the early 17th century. Crossing Spanish barb, English stock, thoroughbred, and mustang created a horse unique to America: the American quarter horse.” Early colonial settlers initially bred these horses to race, but they soon proved useful in roping cattle, helping ranchers to move herds up the Chisolm Trail from south Texas to railheads in Kansas in the late 19th century. “Whether a life member of the AQHA or a visitor passing through who has a casual interest in the magnificence of horses, [everyone] will walk away with a deeper understanding of the American quarter horse and the legendary horses and people who paved the way to build the biggest breed registry in the world.”
The museum has many exhibits with artifacts, including saddles and other equine equipment, photographs, and artwork, and it also features several event spaces. The Grand Hall is the largest space and accommodates up to 300 people, and smaller spaces include the Ken & Laina Banks Theater and the Scharbauer Gallery and Trotter Classroom.
Texas history is filled with such novel stories, and they’re on display at venues statewide. Dating to 1860, the Stagecoach Inn in Salado welcomed its first guests as the Salado House Hotel, then was later renamed the Shady Villa Hotel. “Its storied halls bore witness to the comings and goings of legends like Sam Houston, Robert E. Lee, and the notorious Jesse James,” says Cole Di Carlo, chief operating officer for the inn. “Serving as a vital stop for stagecoaches, it became more than just a resting place—it became a piece of Texas history, being added as a Texas Historical Landmark in 1962.” Today, the property houses the recently renovated Stagecoach Restaurant and several meeting and event spaces.
The Grace Jones Ballroom spans 2,562 square feet and accommodates up to 175 people, the outdoor Heritage Oak Field can host up to 100, and The Ruth Room is best for smaller groups of up to 24. Di Carlo also notes there are four private dining rooms in the restaurant that best accommodate small- to medium-size groups.
To the south in Austin is the Bullock Texas State History Museum, housing diverse exhibits that tell the story of the Lone Star State. Visitors can delve into the state’s role in the oil and gas industry and the stories of Texas’ first inhabitants dating to 12,000 years ago. Several event spaces are available for rent on-site, including the 9,750-square-foot Grand Lobby, the 3,750-square-foot Bob Bullock Atrium, and the 6,500-square-foot Austin Room, among others.
Down along the San Antonio River Walk is the Omni La Mansión Del Rio, a historic 338-room hotel in San Antonio. Its Spanish colonial-inspired architecture blends with modern amenities, and the hotel has 18,000 square feet of event space across 16 meeting rooms. And, of course, when in San Antonio, a visit to The Alamo is a must. Planners can organize either guided tours of the National Historic Landmark or host their event on-site. Nearby in Bandera, planners can arrange horseback rides with Bandera Historical Rides or horse-pulled wagon outings with Wagon Rides of Bandera, both of which take groups along the storied streets of downtown Bandera.
Blending historic ambience with 21st-century comforts is the name of the game at the Grand Galvez along the Gulf Coast in Galveston. “Hotel Galvez first opened in June 1911 and is known as the ‘Queen of the Gulf,’” explains Mark Wyant, owner of Seawall Hospitality LLC, which owns the Grand Galvez. “When I purchased this iconic property in May 2021, I renamed it Grand Galvez to represent my vision and the renovations that would restore it to its grand beginnings. My goal was to reinforce its position as one of the preeminent destinations in south Texas for leisure and business travel, meetings, events, and exhibitions.”
The eye-catching pink property has hosted everyone from presidents to movie stars and other entertainers, and also embodies a stellar level of hospitality that translates well to hosting corporate and nonprofit gatherings. The Music Hall spans 5,000 square feet and displays a color palette of light and royal blues accented by vibrant golds. The Terrace & Veranda are two spaces sold together for events and also total 5,000 square feet for 300 seated attendees. Other event spaces at the property include the Oleander Garden, the Centennial Green, and The Center Lawn.
Also in Galveston is The Tremont House, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, located in the Strand Historic District, which dates to the 19th century. The hotel features Victorian-era architecture, 135 guest rooms, and 17,000 square feet of event space. “Hosting an event at a historic hotel like The Tremont House offers more than just a venue, it also creates a sense of place,” says Mitchell Willingham, director of sales and marketing at The Tremont. “The blend of timeless architecture, modern comforts, and heartfelt hospitality provides attendees with an experience that is both memorable and deeply rooted in Galveston’s unique charm.”
Between Galveston and Houston is La Porte’s San Jacinto Museum and Battlefield, which details the events of 1836 that led to Texas’ independence from Mexico. Planners can arrange group tours of the property, which also houses several event spaces, including the Monument Lobby, Jesse H. Jones Theatre, and the Monument Terrace. From there, groups can head west to Houston where they will find the Magnolia Hotel Houston, A Tribute Portfolio Hotel, and The Whitehall Houston, both esteemed 20th-century lodging options downtown with abundant event venues.
Up in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex are several notable lodging options that double as event venues and provide historic ambience. The Adolphus Hotel in Dallas opened in 1912 and has been an integral part of the city’s hospitality scene. In addition to its nearly 30,000 square feet of function space, the property has an on-staff concierge who is also a trained tour guide who can take attendees around the hotel and share notable fun facts and remarkable tales about the property. Just down the street is The Statler Dallas, Curio Collection by Hilton, part of the Historic Hotels of America program overseen by the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The 1956 property features 159 guest rooms and 10 on-site meeting rooms.
Dallas’ sister city Fort Worth has its own tales to tell and is well known for the Fort Worth Stockyards. Within the stockyards district is Hotel Drover, Autograph Collection, its name honoring the cowboys who drove cattle to market across the Texas plains. Amid its 40,000 square feet of event space are the 3,215-square-foot Legacy Hall, The Barn for up to 450 people, and several other smaller boardrooms. Between meetings, attendees can explore the stockyards and catch sight of longhorn cattle as they make their way through the streets for the daily cattle drive, spy the horse statues that anchor Mule Alley, or hit the town at noteworthy Fort Worth Stockyards establishments like Billy Bob’s Texas and Cattlemen’s Fort Worth Steak House. Other lodging options to consider here include the Courtyard Fort Worth Historic Stockyards and SpringHill Suites Fort Worth Historic Stockyards, the latter of which houses the district’s only rooftop bar, Ático.
Opened in 1896 and transformed in 2018, The Collin Club in nearby Corsicana provides a ground-floor warehouse and design studio, as well as a second-floor rooftop venue and bar designed like a speakeasy, all available for meetings and events. “Since its rebirth, this hidden gem has hosted milestone birthdays, themed soirees, and glamorous galas,” says owner Michelle Hogan. “It’s a one-of-a-kind destination that blends historic character with sophisticated style, welcoming guests from around the world to experience the magic of Corsicana.” The Collin Club’s four distinct rooms planners can select from include The Club, The Design Center, The Collin Hall, and Collin Rooftop.
Well to the west of Dallas-Fort Worth, Big Spring, Lubbock, and Marathon all have historic properties for planners to consider. “Hotel Settles is a historic 1930s-era hotel that has been beautifully restored to its original elegance, with stylish details that [embody] charm, craftsmanship, and architectural elements of an earlier era,” describes Alex Cerda, digital marketing director for La Corsha Hospitality Group, which manages the Big Spring hotel. Planners can choose from several event rooms within the 15,000 square feet of event space on-site, including the opulent Grand Ballroom, the Birdwell Conference Room, Cosden Meeting Room, and Pavilion, among several others. Marathon is home to The Gage Hotel, opened in 1927 and within proximity of sprawling Big Bend National Park; it offers several indoor and outdoor event spaces. Up in Lubbock, the Cotton Court Hotel is part of the Valencia Hotel Collection and features an interior style inspired by the city’s history in the cotton industry. However you might choose to integrate Texas history into your meeting, the venues are plenty and the stories are riveting.
thealamo.org
aqha.com
banderahistoricalrides.com
billybobstexas.com
cattlemenssteakhouse.com
thecollinclub.com
cottoncourthotel.com
fortworthstockyards.org
gagehotel.com
grandgalvez.com
hoteldrover.com
hotelsettles.com
magnoliahotels.com
marriott.com
omnihotels.com
sanjacinto-museum.org
stagecoachsalado.com
thestoryoftexas.com
thetremonthouse.com
wagonridesofbandera.com
thewhitehallhouston.com
