ABILENE — Today, Texas Land Commissioner Dawn Buckingham, M.D. and the Texas General Land Office's (GLO) Save Texas History Program encourage Texans to "give the gift of Texas history" to any history buff or fan of the Lone Star State this holiday season.

This year, the GLO's 2023 Limited Edition Christmas Ornament and related historic map of Llano County can be found at HistoricTexasMaps.com.

"As we begin to embrace the holiday season and this wonderful time of year reveals what matters to us most, I am reminded of the sacrifices of my pioneer ancestors and the duty I share with my fellow Texans to preserve our state's rich history," said Commissioner Buckingham. "This Christmas, Texans can 'give the gift of Texas history' and support conservation efforts with the GLO's 2023 Limited Edition Christmas Ornament or any of the more than 45,000 maps, sketches, and drawings from our treasured collection. By supporting conservation efforts like the GLO's Archives and the Save Texas History Program, Texans can help preserve our state's history for generations to come."

The GLO's 2023 ornament is based on the striking Lone Star that is the center piece of F.H. Arlitt's 1859 map of Llano County. The star doubles as a compass rose, complete with a stylized north arrow. The original star appears on a colorful map highlighting hundreds of land grants and the available public domain of this beautiful Central Texas county.

Texans can also use the GLO's map database and store at HistoricTexasMaps.com to discover unique map collections, explore popular maps, and find the perfect piece of Texas history to give the most meaningful gift this holiday season and year round. 

Orders must be placed by December 14, 2023 to ensure on time delivery.

Created in 2004, the Save Texas History program is a statewide initiative to rally public support and private funding for preserving and promoting the historic maps and documents housed in the GLO Archives.

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