Big Tex, Beyoncé and the Alamo: Texas shows off culture, history at Great American State Fair

WASHINGTON - Phil and Monique Hardy left the Texas display at this week's Great American State Fair praising the Lone Star State's contribution to the event on the National Mall.

"The Texas booth was one of the best," said Phil Hardy, who singled out its mock-up of a spacecraft with screens simulating views from orbit. "If you take a picture of someone against the Earth it looks really great."

The display is part of a 16-day event that has attracted criticism and even ridicule for its bumpy execution. Even before the gates opened, the event had become divisive. It is part of the Freedom 250 event, the initiative President Donald Trump created after breaking with a bipartisan anniversary effort.

The Texas trades politics for tourism. The 600-square-foot display, in a temporary structure built to house contributions from all states, showcases Texas culture, history and attractions, according to Gov. Greg Abbott's office.

Dallas is represented by Big Tex - or more accurately Li'l Tex, given the mini-me replica is roughly knee-high to the 55-foot-tall Texas State Fair icon.

One corner is devoted to the state's honky tonk heritage, with an Austin City Limits sign and a jukebox playing tunes from Texas artists such as Willie Nelson and Beyoncé.

An Alamo facade represents San Antonio. Replicas of graffiti-covered, half-buried autos are a shoutout to Amarillo's Cadillac Ranch, the vintage roadside art installation along the original Route 66.

The state's role in space exploration is highlighted by the capsule in which the Hardys, the couple from Washington, played the role of astronauts.

Harsh national reviews

The Great American State Fair runs through July 10 and has faced several challenges, including intense heat that prompted organizers to temporarily close the event Friday afternoon.

A bipartisan initiative approved by Congress envisioned celebrating the semiquincentennial with major artists and a combination of massive festivals on the mall.

Trump last year established Freedom 250 as an alternative to organize anniversary events, including the state fair. Some musicians canceled planned concerts amid complaints the affair had become overly political.

The fair's opening was marred by power outages, melted ice cream and other hiccups. Live news shots and social media posts have highlighted how low turnout resulted in big empty lawns.

National pundits have issued harsh reviews of the event.

A Washington Post art and architecture critic described it as "rushed" and "oddly sterile," evoking the "supposed Potemkin villages created for Russian Empress Catherine the Great."

Newsweek reported at least 10 states, led by Democratic majorities, opted out of sending official contributions. That has resulted in some booths that featured little more than a couple chairs and a splash of thematic wallpaper.

Schadenfreude drove Brandon Moses to the event, as he wanted to witness firsthand what he described as a disaster.

He said the event on the National Mall lived up to its lame reputation with shoddy infrastructure, lackluster food options and limited rides.

Now based in Washington, Moses said he lived in Dallas for 19 years before leaving in 2023 and he was impressed with the Texas booth.

"They really clearly put some thought and time into it and hit all of the major points of Texas and its history," Moses said as he left the display. Texas showed up, "but overall this is an embarrassment and quite disappointing."

Promoting Texas

Others brushed aside mockery of the event, suggesting the punishing heat kept many from showing up during the week. Several questioned why organizers didn't publicize the air conditioning available in many of the enclosed spaces.

Most described the turnout as a shame and suggested attendance could grow into the weekend and the July 4th holiday.

"I wanted to celebrate the 250th," Monique Hardy said. "This is such a great opportunity for kids and adults to get an appreciation for all the states."

The governor's Economic Development and Tourism Office oversees the display.

Abbott told Spectrum News the display gives visitors a sense of Texas history.

"And doing a little bit of advertising on our own and attracting people to come to the state of Texas and enjoy everything that our state has to offer," he said.

An Abbott spokesman said he did not have exact cost figures, but the money came from an annual tourism program budget appropriated by the Legislature.

Not far from the Texas booth is a small livestock enclosure where organizers have been holding nightly rodeos. Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins addressed the rodeo audience from horseback one night earlier this week and talked up the significance of the 250th events.

"It's going to get bigger and bigger every night," Rollins said.

Chris Haertle of Manassas, Va., quipped that he came to the fair because he doesn't expect to be in a position to celebrate the nation's 500th birthday.

He praised the Texas display, but offered one complaint - there were mouthwatering images of barbecue but no samples.

"Where's the Texas brisket?" Haertle said. "You're killing me."

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This story was originally published July 4, 2026 at 1:53 PM.