Artifacts from Parks
Texas Parks & Wildlife Department oversees and protects more than 627,000 acres of public land, with its bounty of natural and cultural resources.
Humans left behind treasures from their time in these spaces. We collect and preserve these treasures whenever possible.
Park Stories
These artifacts help tell the stories of our parks and of Texas, and you can read some of those stories here. We add an artifact feature each month, so check back for more stories.
From Dinoland to Dino Valley
Dinosaur Valley State Park
Did you know two dinosaurs live at a Texas state park? Dinosaur sculptures, that is. Read more about these dinosaur sculptures.
Balopticon
Caddo Lake State Park
The rangers at Caddo Lake State Park found a strange projector in the back of a storage room. Read more about the balopticon.
Dozier's Medal of Honor
Fort Richardson State Park & Historic Site
James Dozier (or Dosher) worked with the United States Army out of Fort Richardson as a civilian scout in the 1870s. Read about his medal of honor.
Fulgurite
Monahans Sandhills State Park
The rangers at Monahans Sandhills State Park found strange lumps rising up out of the sand. Read more about fulgurite.
Rustic Table
Palo Duro Canyon State Park
CCC artisans created this table from native cedar driftwood from Palo Duro Canyon in January 1935. Read more about this rustic table.
Wok
Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site
Archeologists found broken pieces of woks in a railroad crew camp in West Texas. How did the pieces get there? Read more about woks at Seminole Canyon State Historic Site.
Herbarium Specimen
Barton Warnock Visitors Center
Barton Warnock and his students at Sul Ross University roamed the Big Bend region for three decades studying and collecting plants. Read more about the herbarium at Barton Warnock Visitors Center.