TEXAS MUSEUM DIRECTORY
1985
Compiled and Published by the
Field and Museum Services Department
of the
Texas Historical Commission
Texas Historical Commission
P.O. Box 12276
Austin, TX 78711
TEXAS HISTORICAL COMMISSION
The Texas Historical Commission (THC) was created by the state legislature in 1953 to serve as the official state agency for historical preservation. During the first years of its existence, the Commission administered an aggressive program of surveying and marking historic sites. Subsequent legislation has broadened the activities and responsibilities of the agency to include different aspects of historical preservation, such as archeology, downtown revitalization, publications, work with county historical commissions and other nonprofit heritage groups, and museums.
The Field and Museum Services Department of the THC provides professional services to the more than 700 museums across Texas. The department assists in regional workshops, produces publications, provides on-site consultations, and maintains extensive reference files for museums. The Winedale Museum Seminar, a 10-day, intensive training session for museum professionals and volunteers, is cosponsored by the department. Another program of the department is the administration of a state-funded grants program for history museums. One museum—the Sam Rayburn House Museum in Bonham—is maintained and administered by the THC.
The Texas Historical Commission consists of 18 governor-appointed members who function as a board of directors, overseeing a staff of historians, archeologists, architects, museologists, and experts in related fields. Current Commission members are listed below.
George E. Christian, Austin, Chairman
Mrs. H.L. Long, Kilgore, Vice-chairman
Duncan E. Boeckman, Dallas, Secretary
John M. Bennett, San Antonio
Mrs. James F. Biggart, Jr., Dallas
Richard H. Collins, Dallas
Barney M. Davis, Sr., Somerville
T.R. Fehrenbach, San Antonio
Maxine E. Flournoy, Alice
Woodrow Glasscock, Jr., Hondo
Harry A. Golemon, Houston
Mrs. Albert G. Hill, Dallas
Dr. Robert D. Hunter, Abilene
James S. Nabors, Lake Jackson
Gay Ratliff, Austin
Louis P. Terrazas, San Antonio
Evangeline L. Whorton, Galveston Island
Dr. Dan A. Willis, Fort Worth
PREFACE
Perhaps one of the words that best describes Texas is variety. Whether one is considering weather, geography, cultural groups, or architecture, a variety is available in the Lone Star State.
Texas museums offer a microcosm of the state’s varied cultural and historical resources. Ranging from small county history museums kept alive by volunteer efforts to well-endowed, sophisticated art institutions in metropolitan areas, Texas museums offer something for everyone.
These museums contain the cultural treasures of Texas. They often feature valuable collections of antiquities, documents, and photographs. Many museums display unusual exhibits that are educational, entertaining, and valuable to researchers. The wealth of varied information contained in Texas museums definitely makes them worth a visit.
The simple purpose of this book is to let you know where museums are located in Texas, what they have to offer, and when they are open to the public. Information in this book was compiled from a survey of museums completed in 1984. For more detailed information on Texas museums, we refer you to Texas Museums—A Guidebook by Paula Eyrich Tyler and Ron Tyler, which is available in bookstores.
Cindy Sherrell-Leo, Director Field and Museum Services Department Texas Historical Commission Austin, Texas October 1984
MUSEUMS IN TEXAS
(Listed by City)
ABILENE, TAYLOR COUNTY
ABILENE FINE ARTS MUSEUM
801 South Mockingbird
Abilene, TX 79605
915/673-4587
Open: Tues.-Fri., 9-5; Sat.-Sun., 1-5
Type: Art
Exhibits: Art
Fee: None
WOMEN OF ACU MUSEUM
7 Lytle Place
Abilene, TX 79602
915/677-6460
Open: Special Occasions
Type: Historic Building
Exhibits: Local and Pioneer History
Fee: None
ALBANY, SHACKELFORD COUNTY
LEDBETTER PICKET HOUSE
700 Railroad St.
Albany, TX 76430
915/762-3087
Open: Daily, 8-5
Type: Historic House
Exhibits: Historic House
Fee: None
THE OLD JAIL ART CENTER
Highway 6 East
Route 1, Box 1
Albany, TX 76430
915/762-2269
Open: Tues.-Sat., 10-5; Sun., 2-6
Type: Art/Historic Building
Exhibits: Art
Fee: None
ALICE, JIM WELLS COUNTY
SOUTH TEXAS MUSEUM
66 South Wright
P.O. Box 3232
Alice, TX 78332
512/668-8891
Open: Tues.-Fri., 1-5
Type: History/Historic Building
Exhibits: Local and Pioneer History, Historic Building
Fee: Donation
ALPINE, BREWSTER COUNTY
MUSEUM OF THE BIG BEND
Sul Ross State University
Box C-210
Alpine, TX 79832
915/837-8143
Open: Tues.-Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5
Type: History
Exhibits: Local and Pioneer History, Art, Archeology, Prehistory
Fee: None
ALVIN, BRAZORIA COUNTY
ALVIN MUSEUM
Science Building
Alvin Community College
Alvin, TX 77511
713/331-6458
Open: By Appointment
Type: Local History
Exhibits: Artifacts and Photographs Relating to Southeast Texas
Fee: None
AMARILLO, POTTER-RANDALL COUNTY
AMARILLO ART CENTER
2200 Van Buren
P.O. Box 447
Amarillo, TX 79109
806/372-8356
Open: Tues.-Fri., 10-5; Sat-Sun., 1-5
Type: Art
Exhibits: Art
Fee: None
DON HARRINGTON DISCOVERY CENTER
1200 Streit Dr.
Amarillo, TX 79106
806/355-9547
Open: Mon.-Fri., 8-5; Sat., 10-5 and 7-9; Sun., 1-5 (September-May only)
Type: General/Science
Exhibits: Medical and Physical Science
Fee: None
ANAHUAC, CHAMBERS COUNTY
CHAMBERS COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Courthouse Annex
Anahuac, TX 77514
409/267-3543 or 3452
Open: Mon.-Fri., 8-5; Sat.-Sun. By Appointment
Type: General/History
Exhibits: Local and Pioneer History, Archeology
Fee: None
DR. NICHOLAS T. SCHILLING’S MEDICAL OFFICE MUSEUM
Washington Ave. and Cummings St.
Anahuac, TX 77514
409/267-3452
Open: By Appointment
Type: General/Historic Building
Exhibits: Medical Supplies and Paraphernalia
Fee: None
ANGLETON, BRAZORIA COUNTY
BRAZORIA COUNTY HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Brazoria County Courthouse
100 Cedar St.
P.O. Box 1222
Angleton, TX 77515
409/849-5711, ext. 455
Open: Thurs.-Sat., 1-5
Type: History/Historic Building
Exhibits: Local and Pioneer History, Pre-Statehood, Archeology, Prehistory, Historic Building
Fee: None
ARCHER CITY, ARCHER COUNTY
ARCHER COUNTY MUSEUM
400 West Pecan
Box 656
Archer City, TX 76351
817/423-6426
Open: May-September, Weekends
Type: History/Historic Building
Exhibits: Local and Pioneer History, Natural History
Fee: None
ARLINGTON, TARRANT COUNTY
FIELDER MUSEUM
1616 West Abram
Arlington, TX 76013
817/460-4001
Open: Tues.-Fri., 9:30-2:30; Sun., 1:30-4:30
Type: History/Historic Building
Exhibits: Local and Pioneer History, Historic Building
Fee: None
UNIVERSITY ART GALLERY
Fine Arts Building
601 Monroe St.
Box 19089, UTA Station
Arlington, TX 76019
817/273-2891
Open: Mon.-Fri., 9-4; Sun., 1-4
Type: Art
Exhibits: Art and Architecture
Fee: None
ARP, SMITH COUNTY
ARBORETUM, INC.
McDonald Farms and Campground
Route 1
Arp, TX 75750
214/859-7574
Open: By Appointment
Type: Living Museum
Exhibits: Trees and Bushes Native to the Area
Fee: None
AUSTIN, TRAVIS COUNTY
ARCHER M. HUNTINGTON ART GALLERY
23rd and San Jacinto
Austin, TX 78712
512/471-7324
Open: Mon.-Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5
Type: Art
Exhibits: Art
Fee: None
AUSTIN CHILDREN’S MUSEUM
Perry Brooks Building #702
Austin, TX 78701
512/472-2494
Open: Call for Hours
Type: General
Exhibits: Rotating Exhibits on Various Interests for Children
Fee: None
AUSTIN NATURE CENTER
401 Deep Eddy Ave.
Austin, TX 78703
512/472-4523
Open: Mon.-Fri., 8-5; Sat., 9-5; Sun., 1-5
Type: Science
Exhibits: Science, Natural History, Botany, Zoo
Fee: None
BARKER TEXAS HISTORY CENTER
University of Texas at Austin
Sid Richardson Hall, Unit 2
Austin, TX 78712
512/471-5961
Open: Mon.-Sat., 8-5
Type: History
Exhibits: Texas History and Historical Research on Texas
Fee: None
CONFEDERATE MUSEUM, U.D.C.
112 East 11th St.
Austin, TX 78701
512/472-2596
Open: Mon.-Fri., 9-12, 1-5
Type: History/Historic Building
Exhibits: Collection of 1861-1865
Fee: None
DAUGHTERS OF THE REPUBLIC OF TEXAS OLD LAND OFFICE MUSEUM
112 East 11th St.
Austin, TX 78701
512/477-1822
Open: Mon.-Fri., 9-12, 1-5
Type: General History/Historic Building
Exhibits: Local and Pioneer History
Fee: None
ELISABET NEY MUSEUM
304 East 44th St.
Austin, TX 78751
512/458-2255
Open: Tues.-Fri., 11-4:30; Sat.-Sun., 2-4:30
Type: History/Art/Historic Site
Exhibits: Local and Pioneer History, Art, Historic Building/Site
Fee: None
FRENCH LEGATION MUSEUM
802 San Marcos St.
Austin, TX 78702
512/472-8180
Open: Tues.-Sun., 1-5
Type: General/History/Historic Building
Exhibits: Creole Furnishings and an Authentic Early French Kitchen
Fee: Adults $1; Children 50¢
GEORGE WASHINGTON CARVER MUSEUM
1165 Angelina
Austin, TX 78702
512/472-8954
Open: Tues.-Wed., 10-6; Thurs., 12-8; Fri.-Sat., 12-5
Type: History
Exhibits: Local History, Art, Black Culture
Fee: None
GOVERNOR’S MANSION
11th and Colorado
Austin, TX 78711
512/475-2121
Open: Public Tours from 10-12 Mon., Wed., Fri.
Type: General History/Historic Site
Exhibits: Historic Building/Site and Governor History
Fee: None
JOURDAN BACHMAN PIONEER FARM
11418 Sprinkle Cut-Off Rd.
Austin, TX 78754
512/837-1215
Open: Mon.-Fri., 9-1
Type: History
Exhibits: Local and Pioneer History
Fee: $1 per hour
LAGUNA GLORIA ART MUSEUM
3809 West 35th St.
P.O. Box 5568
Austin, TX 78763
512/458-8191
Open: Tues.-Sat., 10-5; Sun., 1-5; Thurs., 10-9
Type: Art
Exhibits: Art
Fee: None
LBJ LIBRARY AND MUSEUM
2313 Red River
Austin, TX 78705
512/482-5137
Open: Daily, 9-5
Type: History
Exhibits: Presidential Library and History Exhibits
Fee: None
LEEDS GALLERY
Academic Center
4th Floor, Harry Ransom Center
Box 7219
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, TX 78712
512/471-4664
Open: Weekdays, 8-4:45
Type: Art
Exhibits: Art and Literary Collections
Fee: None