Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What do I get when I adopt a place in Texas?

When you adopt a place through our Great Texas Land Rush program, you are getting the opportunity to share your name and dedication message with the world. After checkout, you will also receive a special link in your order email that lets you download and customize your official adoption certificate for each of the places you adopted.

Your name and message will appear on our website, texasalmanac.com, and everywhere else that links to this program for the entire duration of your adoption.

Why doesn’t my full message fit on the certificate?

The certificate included with your adoption is designed to display your name and message beautifully. For very long messages, the text automatically shrinks to fit, but extremely lengthy messages may still be too large and overflow the certificate space.

Most adopters include a short message or dedication that fits comfortably. If your message is longer, don’t worry—it will still appear in full on our websites, such as the Texas Almanac and Handbook of Texas pages for your adopted place. The certificate is meant as a keepsake and does not affect how your message is displayed online.

Want to customize your certificate?

After purchase, you can easily edit your certificate to adjust the text layout, shorten your message, or design it exactly how you want before downloading your final version. A link to the certificate customizer is included in your order confirmation email.

What is your message policy?

We kindly ask that you maintain a tone of respect and courtesy in all adoption messages posted on our website. Each message submitted for the Land Rush undergoes careful review by TSHA staff prior to publication on our platforms. Any messages deemed offensive or controversial will be promptly removed. This includes instances of abusive language, personal attacks, and political discourse, among other criteria.

If a message is rejected due to violation of our policy, we will gladly work with you to modify the message to meet our guidelines. However, please note that refunds will not be issued in these cases.

We appreciate your cooperation in fostering a constructive and welcoming environment for all users of our website. Should you have any questions or concerns regarding this policy, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

When I adopt a place, can somebody else adopt it?

Yes, we do not limit the number of adoptions for a given place and we will post all adoption messages to our sites.

Where does the money go when I support the Great Texas Land Rush program?

All funds are used to support the Texas Almanac and the Texas State Historical Association, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.

Still have questions?

Give us a call at (512) 471-2600, or send an email to the Texas Almanac editor at [email protected]