Curious about Texas Deep Time? The Witte Museum invites you to immerse yourself in the land, sky and water that define the Lone Star State.
The Witte Museum is more than just a museum. It’s a journey through Texas history. It is a place where nature, science, and culture converge. Since 1926, the Witte Museum has welcomed visitors. It has become a trusted keeper of Texas’s historic artifacts and scientific specimens.
Alfred G. Witte bequeathed 65,000 dollars to construct a museum in memory of his parents. The museum would focus on art, science, and natural history. Ellen Schulz Quillin purchased Henry Philemon Attwater’s natural history collection for 5,000 dollars. This formed the basis of the Witte Museum’s collection. The Witte Memorial Museum was the original name. It was later simplified to the Witte Museum in 1984.
The Witte Museum supports archeological research. This began in the 1930s. It led to significant findings. New galleries were built to house the growing collections. Even a reptile garden was added. During the Great Depression, the reptile garden generated income. Ranchers sold rattlesnakes to the museum. They earned ten to fifteen cents per pound.
Two historic San Antonio houses were moved to the Witte Museum in the 1940s. These were the homes of John Twohig and José Francisco Ruiz. Two log cabins were constructed by the National Youth Administration. Students still learn about pioneer life here.
The McFarlin Jewel Room and Piper Memorial Wing were additions in the 1960s. The Lone Star Hall of Wildlife and Ecology opened in 1971. It showcased Texas wildlife dioramas. The H-E-B Science Treehouse opened in the 1990s. It offered interactive science exhibits.
The Hertzberg Circus Collection was transferred to the Witte Museum in 2003. It is the oldest public circus collection. It includes artifacts, photos and music.
Marise McDermott became President and CEO in 2004. She has since overseen significant expansions. The H-E-B Body Adventure is an interactive health experience. The B. Naylor Morton Research and Collections Center displays over 300,000 artifacts. The Mays Family Center is a multi-purpose space.
The Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center opened in 2012. It permanently houses South Texas collections. These collections showcase saddles, spurs, clothing and firearms.
A major renovation in 2014 cost 100 million dollars. It included the Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery. The Valero Great Hall features dinosaur replicas. The McLean Family Texas Wild Gallery and Kittie West Nelson Ferguson People of the Pecos Gallery also opened. The Valero Great Hall has replicas of an Acrocanthosaurus, a Tyrannosaurus rex and a Quetzalcoatlus.
The Witte Museum attained LEED certification. This means that designs are environmentally friendly.
The Witte Museum is a place of wonder. It offers countless moments of discovery. From dinosaur casts to ancient artifacts, there is something for everyone. Explore the land, sky, and water of Texas. The Witte Museum awaits to inspire and educate all who enter its doors.