The Portal of Texas History

Guides > Finding Information in the Portal > Explore

Explore

If you do not have a specific search in mind and prefer to browse the contents of the Portal to Texas History, use Explore. It is a great way to get an overview of the Portal's extensive range of resources.

Start by selecting Explore from the upper right-hand corner of the Portal home page. Then choose the way you want to explore from the red navigation bar near the top of the screen.

Explore

Each broad explore area may contain hundreds or even thousands of items. After you select a subarea of interest, you can narrow results further by adding a keyword in the search box located above the list of items, or by selecting from the categories that appear on the left-hand side of the screen.

Explore by Locations

  • Use the map of Texas to find items associated with a particular county. Colors on the map indicate how many items the Portal has for each county. Dark blue counties have the most items. Gray counties have no items. As you move the cursor over a county, its name will appear; click to view the items.

  • If you do not know a specific county’s location on the map, you can view an alphabetical list by clicking on the List of Counties / Locations displayed above the Texas Map.

Explore by Subjects

Select from sixteen subject areas that allow you to view related materials at a glance, such as Architecture, Immigration or Education.

Explore by Dates

  • Choose from fourteen different ranges that are based on significant historical periods in Texas history. Because the date ranges are thematic as well as chronological, some of the ranges overlap.

  • Create your own date range to explore items about, or created in, a particular era. Click on Choose Your Own Dates located above the date ranges. Enter a date using the four-digit year.

Explore by Types

Discover items by resource types, such as artwork, photographs, newspapers, letters, maps, books or physical objects.

Explore by Partners

Scan a list of over one-hundred Partner institutions and individuals that contribute items to the Portal.

  • Find the items the Partner has contributed to the Portal by clicking on the Partner’s name.

  • Learn more about the Partner by clicking on “About this partner.” You will find a description of the Partner, the collections it has contributed, its recent additions to the Portal, and its contact information.

Explore by Collections

View a list of materials grouped around specific themes, such as the George Ranch Museum Collection, the Benson Latin American Collection or the Neal Douglass Photography Collection.

  • Find all the items in the Collection by clicking on the name of the Collection.

  • Learn more about the Collection by clicking on “About this collection.” You will find a description of the collection, a list of the Partners that contribute to the collection, and the most recent additions to the collection.