As America prepares to celebrate its 250th birthday, the Southlake Historical Society is inviting residents to look at Independence Day through a unique local lens.
Its summer 2026 exhibit, "July 4, 1776: Here and There," explores what was happening in Spanish Tejas at the very moment delegates in Philadelphia were approving the Declaration of Independence. While the nation's founding story often centers on the East Coast, the exhibit highlights the people, cultures and events shaping life in what would one day become Texas.
Per a press release from the Historical Society, visitors will discover the rich history of the Cross Timbers region, where Native American tribes including the Wichita, Tonkawa, Kiowa, and Hasinai Caddo lived, hunted and traveled for centuries before the American Revolution. The exhibit also examines the arrival of Spanish explorers, missionaries and soldiers who established a presence across the region during the 16th and 17th centuries.
Through photographs, maps, artwork and historical narratives, the display reveals how Spanish Tejas influenced the broader story of the American Revolution and the development of North America.
The exhibit runs June 29 through Aug. 29 in the lobby of Southlake Town Hall, 1400 Main Street. Admission is free. Hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The exhibit is closed Sundays.