Texas Heritage, Summer 2001 Page: 9

AUSTIN
TEXAS MEMORIAL
MUSEUM
The building that houses the Texas
Memorial Museum of Science and
History is itself an icon of this state's cultural
history. It is constructed of a fossilfilled,
shell-bearing limestone called
Cordova Shell, which dates from about
100 million years ago. Furthermore, the
museum, situated on the University of
Texas at Austin campus, welcomes visitors
with the famous sculpture of The
Mustangs designed and cast in bronze by
master horse sculptor A. Phimister
Proctor.
Inside of the building, visitors can find
exhibits that focus on the geology of
Texas, historical themes and people of
the state, natural areas and wildlife, and
indigenous cultures.
2400 Trinity on the University of Texas
at Austin campus, (512) 471-1604;
www. tmm. utexas. edu
BELTON
BELL COUNTY MUSEUM
Though still young, the Bell County
Museum, which was founded in 1988 by
the Bell County Commissioners Court, is
on its way to accomplishing its mission.
Set up to serve constituents as an essential
community resource for the collection,
interpretation, and perpetuation of
the historical heritage of the Bell County
area, the museum opened to the public in
March 1991. Located in the 1904-05
Carnegie Library Building in Belton, the
building is one of only 12 libraries still
standing in Texas that were endowed by
Andrew Carnegie.
The Bell County Museum's collection
focuses on the first 100 years of Bell
County history (1850-1950). Museum
officials boast that it is the home of the
Miriam Ferguson collection and 4
exhibit on Texas' first female governor,
a Bell County native.
201 N. Main Street, (254) 9335243;
www.vvm.com/lmuseum

Ma Ferguson,
Bell County Museum
SAN ANTONIO
THE ALAMO
Perhaps no other icon of history represents
Texas like The Alamo (Mission
San Antonio de Valero). Known worldwide,
The Alamo draws more than 2.5
million tourists each year who come to
see the mission where 189 Texans held
out for 13 days against the army of
General Antonio L6pez de Santa Anna.
Although the defenders of the Alamo
were defeated on March 6, 1836, their
deaths have come to symbolize courage,
sacrifice, and perseverance.
The Alamo has been managed by the
Daughters of the Republic of Texas since
1905. Visitors are welcome to stroll
through the beautiful Alamo Gardens
and view relics of Texas history and the
Revolution at the three buildings on the
site-the Shrine (the old mission
church), Long Barrack Museum, and the
gift shop.
300 Alamo Plaza in downtown
San Antonio,(210)225-1391;
www. thealamo . org

Right: The Mustangs, Texas
Memorial Museum

SAN ANTONIO
THE WITTE MUSEUM
The Witte Museum is one of the grand
dames of Texas museums. It was founded
in 1926 by Ellen S. Quillin, a young San
Antonio school teacher and botanist
who served as director for 34 years.
One of the most interesting of the
museum's cultural exhibits is called
Ancient Texans: Rock Art and Lifeways
Along the Pecos, and it explores the culture
of the ancient people of Southwest
Texas. This prehistoric hunter-gatherer
society flourished 4,000 years ago along
the confluence of the Rio Grande, Pecos,
and Devils Rivers.
For those whose tastes run toward
architecture and furnishings, make sure
to see Made By Hand, which features the
museum's collection of Texas furniture.
Most of the pieces were hand-crafted
between 1830 to 1890 by Texans of
German birth or background.
3801 Broadway, (210) 357-1900;
www. wittemuseum. org
WACO
THE DR PEPPER MUSEUM
If visitors to the Dr Pepper Museum in
Waco think that they're stopping for the
kids, they're going to be surprised. This
unusual museum will entertain and
enlighten people of all ages.
Stepping back in time, visitors to this
facility will learn that in 1885 pharmacist
Charles Curtis Alderton first combined
the flavors for a new soda pop while
working at the Old Corer Drug Store in
Waco. The store was located in the first
floor of the McLelland Hotel. Six years
later a new soft drink company was
launched in Waco to bottle Dr Pepper
and other flavors. It was called the
Artesian Manufacturing and Bottling
Company. The company custom
built its first headquarters building
in 1906, and that is where the
museum honoring the soft drink is
located today. That building is listed
in the National Register for
Historic Homes.
300 S. 5th Street, (254) 757-2433;
www. drpeppermuseum. com

Photo By Imelda Mendoza

HERITAGE / SUMMER 2001