American Indian Heritage Day 2024

Event Details

With House Bill 174, the Texas State Legislature named the last Friday in September American Indian Heritage Day, which recognizes the historic, cultural, and social contributions American Indian communities and leaders have made to the state. The Bullock Museum, in partnership with Great Promise for American Indians, celebrates our community's Indigenous cultures with its special American Indian Heritage Day program.

The day will feature a range of activities, with dancing and drumming performances and interactive experiences for school groups at the Museum, as well as on-demand digital resources and a livestream of the performance at 12 p.m. that you can use to celebrate virtually at home or at school. An evening public program will celebrate the traditional and contemporary performing arts of Texas's American Indian groups.

Celebrating in the classroom?

Schedule of Events

Program for School Groups and Museum Visitors
10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.

• Discover the diversity of American Indians that have called this land home and find out more about Native Americans living in Texas today. Learn about cultural traditions at hands-on activity stations
• Dancing and drumming performances by Great Promise for American Indians in the Museum Grand Lobby
  • Performances: 10:30 to 11 a.m. and 12 to 12:30 p.m.

Public Celebration
6 to 8 p.m.

• Celebrate the traditional and contemporary arts of Texas's American Indian groups. This FREE public program will honor American Indians of yesterday and today, with dancing and drumming performances
• 6 p.m. — Doors open. Explore the exhibition Becoming Texas
• 6:30 p.m. — American Indian Heritage Day program begins

School Groups

Introduce your students to American Indian cultures through first-hand experiences. Space is limited, so sign up early. Reservations open August 1. Make a field trip reservation to this FREE program here. Email reservations@thestoryoftexas.com or call (512) 463-6712 with any questions.

Please note:
Homeschool information: Homeschool groups are welcome on American Indian Heritage Day and may receive school group rates without assembling a group of 10. Make a field trip reservation at least two weeks in advance in order to receive our school group rate of complementary exhibition admission for teachers and students, regardless of the number of people in your group. Questions? Email reservations@thestoryoftexas.com or call (512) 463-6712.

Arriving at the Museum without a reservation? You are still invited to participate in the activities, which will be free with exhibition admission. Please visit the Ticketing counter upon arriving.

Parking information: The underground parking garage entrance is located on 18th Street on the south side of the Museum. The cost is $15 for full-day parking (no re-entry). We suggest carpooling, if possible, as the garage can fill to capacity on special days like American Indian Heritage Day.

Celebrate in the Classroom

The day will feature a range of on-demand resources that celebrate the traditional and contemporary performance arts of Texas's American Indian groups, including dancing performances, a curator talk, storytelling, artmaking, and learning activities to explore at home or in school. Join our livestream on the Bullock Museum YouTube channel at 12 p.m. to virtually attend the performance.

Missed the event? The livestream video will remain available on the Bullock Museum YouTube channel.

Educators: To receive CPE credit, email Education@TheStoryofTexas.com

Your Support Matters

Help us continue to share the story of Texas through free programs with a tax-deductible donation.

Enjoy discounts, exclusive programs, and free access to exhibitions year round by becoming a member of the Bullock Museum.

The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.

School Field Trips presented by The John M. O'Quinn Foundation.

School Programs are generously funded by Featured sponsor The Marie M. and James H. Galloway Foundation, Supporting sponsor The Lange Family Foundation, and Contributing sponsors Bella and Chase Cooley, Dian Graves Owen Foundation, and Roger and Marianne Staubach.