Bullock Museum exhibition features Treaty from National Archives that shaped Texas borders

DECEMBER 6, 2018 (AUSTIN, TX) — The Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin, Texas, is pleased to announce a rare opportunity for visitors to view the original American copy of a key 19th century treaty on loan from the United States National Archives. The Adams-Onís Treaty will be featured in the Bullock Museum's new exhibition Becoming Texas: Our Story Begins Here, opening December 10.

"We are so honored to work with the National Archives in bringing this transformational document to the Bullock Museum," said Bullock Museum Director Margaret Koch. "At a time when there is so much focus on the separations between countries, it is important to gain a historical perspective on how our existing Texas borders came to be."

Signed on February 22, 1819 by Secretary of State John Quincy Adams and Spanish minister Luis de Onís, the treaty gave Florida to the United States and established the Sabine River as the border between the U.S. and New Spain. This borderline formed the northern and eastern boundaries of Texas, establishing the state's famous shape as we know it today. As a key feature in Becoming Texas, the treaty helps to tell the story of how global politics influenced the growth of early Texas and ultimately formed its borders. It will be on view at the Bullock Museum until April 30, 2019.

"This is a limited time opportunity for Texans to see a true national treasure in person. We hope visitors will take this chance to view this singular document that has had such a long-lasting impact on our state and national history," said Koch.

Becoming Texas is a comprehensive exploration of more than 16,000 years of Texas history utilizing the most contemporary research available, beginning with one of the earliest known artifacts made by humans in the Americas. Visitors will discover the people, places and events that shaped Texas prior to Mexican Independence in 1821 through rare artifacts, original multimedia experiences, and hands-on interactives. 

The National Archives, established by Congress in 1934, is an independent federal agency that safeguards and preserves the records of the U.S. government through a network of archives, record centers, and presidential libraries. The holdings of the National Archives include documents ranging from the Declaration of Independence to accounts of ordinary Americans.

Becoming Texas: Our Story Begins Here opens to the public on Monday, December 10, with a special members-only preview and celebration on December 9. For more information, visit TheStoryofTexas.com or call (512)936-8746.

Downloads

• Download PDF

---

​​The Bullock Texas State History Museum, a division of the State Preservation Board and an accredited institution of the American Alliance of Museums, creates experiences that educate, engage, and encourage a deeper understanding of Texas. With dynamic, award-winning exhibitions that illuminate Texas history, people, and culture, educational programming for all ages, and an IMAX® theater with a screen the size of Texas, the Museum collaborates with more than 700 museums, libraries, archives, organizations, and individuals across the world to bring the Story of Texas to life. For more information, visit www.TheStoryofTexas.com or call (866)369-7108.

The Bullock Texas State History Museum is a division of the Texas State Preservation Board. Additional support for educational programming provided by the Texas State History Museum Foundation.