Founded in 2007, the Institute for Historical Studies in the Department of History has served as a meeting place for historians and historically minded scholars across fields and periods. Over the years, it has provided a dynamic space for scholarly inquiry and exchange. Housed in Garrison Hall, the longtime home of the Department of History, the Institute serves as the intellectual heart of the department. It organizes international conferences, fosters scholarly presentations and roundtables, promotes critical discussion of historical themes and methods, and encourages reflections on the origins and legacies of historical events. In doing so, it provides a venue for scholars to share their work while building bridges to other departments and centers across the university, as well as to the broader Austin community.