The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is located on North Congress Avenue between the State Capitol and the University of Texas campus. Besides the actual museum, the complex includes a cafeteria, a gift shop, an IMAX theater, a smaller theater with an interactive show called The Star of Destiny, and an attached parking garage. The gift shop is the best place in town to find Texas and Austin souvenirs and, yes, the final Harry Potter movie is still playing at the IMAX. 

This museum is named after Bob Bullock who was Lieutenant Governor for most of the 1990s. He is credited with championing the idea of having a state history museum. His statue is displayed in the rotunda. His closing words for every speech, “God Bless Texas,” are etched on the wall behind the statue.

The rotunda floor features a colorful mural by artist Robert T. Ritter: The Story of Texas: Born around the Campfires of our Past. 

I was surprised to learn that all items are on loan because this is a non-collecting museum. The permanent exhibits have not changed much since I last visited a few years ago. Texas history is traced on three floors:
Floor 1. Encounters on the Land (Native Americans and early settlers)
Floor 2: Building the Lone Star Identity (Texas Revolution through Civil War)
Floor 3: Creating Opportunity (20th century through today)

A special exhibit, Texas High School Football: More than the Game, is on display until January. I am not a football fan (and that’s an understatement!) but as a Former Band Mom, I seemed to have absorbed some knowledge of high school football here. So I enjoyed looking at memorabilia from teams, coaches, bands, and drill teams from Central Texas and other areas.