Commissioner Buckingham Announces General Land Office's 2026 Limited Edition Christmas Ornament and Map Sale For the Holidays
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Texas General Land OfficeAUSTIN, Texas— 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.
"As a ninth-generation Texan, celebrating the history of our great nation is special, and with this year's ornament, we honor America's 250th birthday with a beautiful Christmas decoration depicting the importance of the US Declaration of Independence," said Commissioner Buckingham. "Authored in 1776, the Declaration of Independence was the founding document for the establishment of this great nation. The words of our Founding Fathers ushered in Independence from Great Britain. This holiday, you can help preserve Texas history and support conservation efforts by purchasing the GLO's 2026 Christmas ornament. Texans can also give the gift of Texas history by purchasing any one of our 45,000 maps, sketches, and drawings from our treasured archival collection.”
This year's GLO ornament supporting the Save Texas History Program celebrates the 250th anniversary of the US Declaration of Independence with iconic patriotic imagery of Uncle Sam, which appears on an 1889 map of Jefferson County.
While its origins are ambiguous, the character's usage dates to the early 19th century, around the time of the War of 1812, when it came to represent a personification of the US government. On the map, Uncle Sam stands at Sabine Pass, “A Door to the World,” welcoming business into the port with waters deep enough to uphold “the world’s progress.”
To order your 2026 GLO Christmas ornament, click the button below:
Texans can also use the GLO's map database and store 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.
To browse maps for sale, click the button below:
Own a piece of Texas history this holiday by purchasing the GLO's award-winning book, Texas Takes Shape: A History in Maps from the General Land Office.
This collectible offers an illuminating selection from the GLO archive: over 100 maps that tell—and sometimes obscure—the stories of European colonization, Spanish and Mexican rule, the Republic of Texas, and the modern US state. The two-part, nine-chapter collection takes readers on a journey through history that defines and develops Texas through centuries of research and preservation.
Texas Takes Shape also includes a foreword, written by Commissioner Buckingham, highlighting her own ancestors' arrival in Texas and the opportunity they found working on this land. She explains, in detail, their settlement in Brazoria County along the Brazos River in present-day Bailey's Prairie, named in her ancestor's honor.
To order your copy of Texas Takes Shape, click the button below:
Order 'Texas Takes Shape' Today!
Orders placed by December 16th ensure on-time delivery for Christmas.
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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Dr. Dawn Buckingham made history in 2022, winning a statewide election to become Texas' first female Land Commissioner. As Land Commissioner, Dr. Dawn Buckingham is committed to helping Texans after a disaster, supporting Texas energy, ensuring that every child in Texas receives a high-quality public education, serving Texas Veterans, and securing the border to keep our communities safe.
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