By NIIOHONTESHA WARRIOR
editor@portisabelsouthpadre.com
On February 22, 2024, the Port Isabel Lighthouse (PILH) hosted Edward Lengel, the Executive Director of the Texas Historical Commission (THC).
As a Washington DC native, Lengel is THC’s sixth Executive Director, a presidential and military historian, the author of 14 books, and a museum director. He also said that he did some archeology work in Ireland and Britain during his studies.
Lengel leads the Texas Historic Preservation Agency. He provides: guidance and oversight to the agency’s 39 historic sites, regulatory guidance for state and federal historical and archeological designations, state and tax historic tax credits, and other economic development programs. The agency also showcases historic preservation benefits to quality of life, tourism, and downtown revitalizations, according to a press release.
Lengel comes to the THC from the National Medal of Honor Museum in Arlington, Texas, where he served as vice president for museum experience, and from the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, where he was senior director of programs.
Lengel was a full professor at the University of Virginia and served as Chief Historian for the White House Historical Association. Lengel is a co-recipient of the National Humanities Medal for his George Washington Papers project work. He is the author of, “General George Washington: A Military Life;” “Never in Finer Company: The Men of the Great War’s Lost Battalion;” and other works. His books have been honored with the Army Historical Foundation Distinguished Book Award, the Norman B. Tomlinson, Jr. prize, and other awards.
Lengel said that his interests are in people, explaining that he loves people and history is about people. “To understand people of the past is us, now in the present, and the future. History is like looking into a mirror, learning everything from history and becoming better by looking at the past.” He went onto say, “Going to sites where things have happened, we need to experience being there, like battlefields, where stories of peace, and standing there to understand and visualize what happened at that exact site. (This) makes history real, with chills and all.”
According to Lengel, the PILH is one of the 39 historical locations in Texas that the THC preserves. PILH is the only lighthouse on the list of historical Texas historical sites.
Lengel said, “You must experience and be there where things happened. It would be best if you felt it. Stories are where culture is and it is where culture lives on.” He finished by saying, “Understanding the past is the only way we can learn and not make the same mistakes in the future or repeat the good things.”
He repeated the word “folklore” six times during the interview, emphasizing the importance he believes storytelling holds. Folklore holds culture, memories, and insights into the future, he explained.
Anyone wanting more information about the 39 historical locations can visit Texastimetravel.com and Texas Heritage Programs.
Also see pg. 4 in this week’s edition of the PRESS for a full photo essay.
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