A way to explore the state’s multicultural history is through our buildings—some crafted from adobe that have been standing for centuries, others from sand-hued limestone pulled up from beneath our feet. The December issue focuses on the noteworthy structures that dot the landscape, which, when combined, form an architectural style that’s distinctly Texan. In “By Design,” written by Clayton Maxwell and designed by Texas Highways Art Director Sara D’Eugenio, Maxwell surveys five architectural styles found across the state. From Victorian mansions topped with turrets to modernist chapels bathed in sunlight through stained-glass windows, the buildings featured are worthy detours and destinations. The rest of the issue takes us down neon-lit roadways and to places we visited and photographed in the past year. In “Architecture of Restlessness,” writer Emily Gogolak delves into the history and enduring allure of the state’s roadside motels, which have offered bleary-eyed travelers an affordable place to stay for decades. And “The Year in Photos” gives a fresh perspective on familiar stops from our pages—from a Scandinavian-spirited store in Plano to a stargazing dome in the Chihuahuan Desert.