Texas Administrative Code
Title 13 - CULTURAL RESOURCES
Part 2 - TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
Chapter 16 - HISTORIC SITES
Section 16.2 - Historic Sites Admission and Use

Universal Citation: 13 TX Admin Code ยง 16.2

Current through Reg. 49, No. 38; September 20, 2024

(a) Admission Fees.

(1) An admission fee may be levied at the Commission's historic sites. The fee will grant entry and provide certain privileges for a specific date or part thereof.

(2) Reduced fees may be established for visitors in the following categories:
(A) Children under 6 years old;

(B) Youth 6 through 18 years of age;

(C) School children visiting as part of a school activity (field trip);

(D) Groups of 10 or more who have made advance reservations;

(E) Seniors 65 years or older;

(F) Family groups (adult and children combinations);

(G) Veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces;

(H) Active military member and family; and

(I) State Historic Sites Annual Pass.

(3) The Commission may enter into agreements with non-profit organizations, in particular friend's groups associated with the Commission's historic sites, to admit members of the organization without payment of an admission fee.

(4) An admission fee will be set by the Executive Director and advertised for each historic site, except the National Museum of the Pacific War, San Jacinto Monument, and Port Isabel Lighthouse . The fee will be based on the location, size, facilities and development of each individual historic site.

(5) The fee for admission to the National Museum of the Pacific War, San Jacinto Monument, and Port Isabel Lighthouse will be established by agreement between the Commission and the respective partner organization as noted in subsection (a)(3) of this section .

(6) The Executive Director may at his discretion waive any admission fees or conditions thereof established in this section at any historic site where circumstances adversely affect public enjoyment of the site. The Executive Director may designate other agency personnel to discount or waive admission fees.

(7) The Executive Director may discount or waive entrance or other use fees in order to enhance utilization, promote future visitation of historic sites or facilitate contribution of volunteer services. The Executive Director may designate other agency personnel to discount or waive admission fees.

(8) Upon finding a need for public safety or welfare or preservation of site resources the Executive Director or his/her designee may impose restrictions on public activity and conduct and may limit the use of any area or facility in any historic site or portion thereof. It is an offense for an unauthorized person to enter or remain in an area or participate in any activity so restricted by the Executive Director.

(9) Commission employees and emergency personnel are exempt from this chapter when this chapter conflicts with the discharge of their official duties to the extent of that conflict.

(10) The Executive Director may establish an annual admission fee for certain historic sites. The annual permit will admit its holder unlimited admission to specific property during the calendar year beginning at the date of purchase.

(11) The historic sites may accept cash, credit cards, or checks for payment fees depending on the capability of each site.

(12) The Executive Director will establish use fees for historic sites with overnight camping facilities, overnight room rental or additional recreational facilities, including but not limited to RV hook ups, boat launches, and equipment rental.

(13) Hours and days of operation of each historic will be determined by the Executive Director or his/her designee and advertised in a prominent way for each historic site.

(b) Activity and Facility Use Fees.

(1) Use of the Commission's historic sites by groups for personal or organizational purposes, such as picnics, reunions, receptions, etc. is encouraged as a way to engage a wider audience for the historic sites and increase communities' enjoyment and understanding of the sites and their mission. A reasonable fee may be charged for such use to help offset the Commission's costs and to generate revenue to support a site's primary mission.

(2) Facility use may not conflict with the commission's primary mission to preserve and interpret a historic site including:
(A) The routine operation of a site for public enjoyment;

(B) The ability of visitors to have an enjoyable and educational experience;

(C) The safety of staff, visitors, and users; and

(D) The availability of site staff to coordinate and oversee these events.

(3) The Executive Director or his/her designee will establish guidelines governing circumstances when rentals are appropriate, the times and activities allowed, and special conditions related to preservation and use of a site. This chapter must be consistent with the mission stated in paragraph (2) of this subsection.

(4) The Executive Director may establish reasonable use fees for individual historic site activities or facilities. Fees may be established on an hourly, daily, overnight, weekly, monthly, seasonal or annual basis. The Executive Director or his/her designee may waive or reduce the fees where it is in the best interests of the historic site or program.

(c) Reservations.

(1) Reservations for historic site facilities may be accepted for sites with facilities available for public use. The Executive Director or his/her designee is authorized to prescribe such procedures and conditions for reservations, deposits and partial or full refunds as needed.

(2) A written facility use application must be signed and submitted by the requestor describing the purpose of the event or activity, the facilities requested, the number of people anticipated to participate, all activities that are part of the event, schedule of the activity, and duration of the event including time for set up and take-down.

(3) The Executive Director or his/her designee will establish site specific requirements and guidelines, in addition to the rules stated in this section for participants in facility use activities.

(d) Routine or Low Impact Events.

(1) Routine events including picnics, use of pavilions, shelters or designated areas for social gatherings involving fewer than 50 people and commercial still photography that involves only had-held equipment, no props and no more than 5 people, including the photographer, will be approved by the site manager where the following conditions are met:
(A) No significant staff time is needed to set up or take down the area;

(B) Applicant agrees to leave the premises in the condition it was found, free of trash and debris;

(C) No electrical or other utility hookups are required;

(D) The activity will not interfere with the normal operation of the site or access to the site by visitors during normal open hours; and

(E) No alcohol will be consumed.

(2) A fee will be charged based on site's approved facility use fee program.

(3) General liability insurance coverage by the applicant with Commission named as an additional insured may be required if deemed necessary by the Site Manager.

(4) The site manager will approve or deny a use application for routine/low impact events.

(e) Major or High Impact Events.

(1) A Facility Use will be considered a major event if it includes any of the following:
(A) Commercial photography involving 6 or more people including the photographer, large props, or any stationary equipment, or motion picture filming for sale or profit;

(B) Events involving more than 50 people;

(C) Use of site staff to set up or take down furniture, tents, equipment, etc.;

(D) Historic Site owned tents, furniture, equipment, or utility connections;

(E) Serving alcohol; or

(F) Interfering with the normal operation of the site or disrupting visitor services.

(2) Sponsors/applicants for use of a Commission historic site for a major event must sign a written agreement with the Commission to be approved by the Executive Director or his/her designee. The sponsor must be provided a copy of the site's Facility Use Rules.

(3) The sponsor must provide general liability insurance coverage in an amount determined by the Executive Director or his/her designee naming the Commission as an additional insured. If alcohol will be served, the sponsor or caterer must provide liquor liability insurance with a minimum limit of $1 million per occurrence. A certificate of insurance coverage must be included in the written agreement for facility use.

(4) Alcohol (wine and beer only) may only be served at a private event. The site manager will determine if and how many security personnel are required for any event at which alcohol is served. Security personnel will be hired and paid by the program/activity sponsor.

(5) Minors may attend events where alcohol is served only if the minor's parent or guardian is present.

(6) A fee will be collected based on a site's approved facility use fee program. In addition, sponsors will pay the cost of all staff overtime required to properly set up, take down and supervise the event as determined by the Executive Director or his/her designee.

(f) Facility uses including the following activities are permitted at Commission historic sites only with the express permission of the Executive Director or his/her designee:

(1) Events that pose a risk of damage to the site or injury to persons attending the event.

(2) Fundraising events for other non-Commission affiliated non-profit organizations.

(3) Events involving firearms.

(g) The following activities are not permitted as part of a facility use activity at Commission Historic Sites:

(1) Events that are incompatible with or conflict with the public service, preservation and educational mission of the historic site;

(2) Events that may endanger natural or cultural resources of the site through physical impact, over use, or overcrowding;

(3) Events involving live ammunition or pyrotechnic displays;

(4) Political events or activities;

(5) Events involving unsupervised or inadequately supervised minor children;

(6) Events or activities that involve domestic animals without appropriate controls or supervision, or wild animals under any circumstances; or

(7) Commercial activities including selling, recruiting, soliciting or promoting products or services to visitors, in particular, activities that promote cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, or behavior inappropriate at a State Historic Site.

Disclaimer: These regulations may not be the most recent version. Texas may have more current or accurate information. We make no warranties or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the information contained on this site or the information linked to on the state site. Please check official sources.
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