List of museums in South Texas
This article was split from List of museums in Texas.
The list of museums in South Texas encompasses museums defined for this context as institutions that collect and care for objects of cultural, artistic, scientific, or historical interest and make their collections or related exhibits available for public viewing. Museums that exist only in cyberspace are not included. Also included are non-profit art galleries and exhibit spaces.
South Texas
South Texas is a region of the US state of Texas that lies roughly south of and including San Antonio. The southern and western boundary is the Rio Grande, and to the east it is the Gulf of Mexico.Counties included are Aransas, Atascosa, Bee, Brooks, Calhoun, Cameron, DeWitt, Dimmit, Duval, Edwards, Frio, Goliad, Gonzales, Guadalupe, Hidalgo, Jackson, Jim Hogg, Jim Wells, Karnes, Kenedy, Kinney, Kleberg, La Salle, Lavaca, Live Oak, Maverick, McMullen, Medina, Nueces, Real, Refugio, San Patricio, Starr, Uvalde, Val Verde, Victoria, Webb, Willacy, Zapata, Zavala County, Texas.
Museums
Aransas - Brooks
| Museum name | Image | City | County | Notes | Refs |
| Bay Education Center | Rockport | Aransas | Ecology of the Mission-Aransas National Estuarine Research Reserve | ||
| Fulton Mansion State Historic Site | Rockport | Aransas | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Place | ||
| History Center for Aransas County | Rockport | Aransas | |||
| Rockport Center for the Arts | Rockport | Aransas | All varieties of the arts | ||
| Texas Maritime Museum | Rockport | Aransas | |||
| Longhorn Museum | Pleasanton | Atascosa | |||
| Beeville Art Museum | Beeville | Bee | |||
| McClanahan House | Beeville | Bee | Oldest business structure in Beeville | ||
| Skidmore Historical Society Museum | Skidmore | Bee | |||
| The Heritage Museum at Falfurias | Falfurrias | Brooks County |
Calhoun - Cameron
| Museum name | Image | City | County | Notes | Refs |
| Calhoun County Museum | [Port Lavaca County, Texas|Lavaca, Texas|Port Lavaca] | Calhoun | |||
| Brownsville Heritage Museum/Stillman House Museum | Brownsville | Cameron | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places | ||
| Children's Museum of Brownsville | Brownsville | Cameron | |||
| Commemorative Air Force Rio Grande Valley Wing Museum | Brownsville | Cameron | World War II history, vehicles and aircraft, branch of the Commemorative Air Force | ||
| Costumes of America | Brownsville | Cameron | |||
| Freddy Fender Museum | San Benito | Cameron | |||
| The Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum | Harlingen | Cameron | |||
| Historic Brownsville Museum | Brownsville | Cameron | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places | ||
| Iwo Jima Museum | Harlingen | Cameron | |||
| Market Square Research Center | Brownsville | Cameron | |||
| Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park | Brownsville | Cameron | |||
| Port Isabel Lighthouse | Port Isabel, Texas | Cameron | National Register of Historic Places | ||
| Port Isabel Historical Museum | Port Isabel | Cameron | |||
| San Benito Cultural Heritage Museum | San Benito | Cameron | |||
| San Benito History Museum | San Benito | Cameron | |||
| Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum | San Benito | Cameron | |||
| Treasures of the Gulf Museum | Port Isabel | Cameron | Children's Discovery Lab |
DeWitt - Frio
| Museum name | Image | City | County | Notes | Refs |
| Chisholm Trail Heritage Museum | Cuero | DeWitt | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark | ||
| Cuero Heritage Museum | Cuero | DeWitt | National Register of Historic Places | ||
| DeWitt County Historical Museum | Cuero | DeWitt | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places | ||
| Pharmacy and Medical Museum of Texas | Cuero | DeWitt | Established by Joseph Reuss in 1845 | ||
| Yoakum Heritage Museum | Yoakum | DeWitt | |||
| Dimmit County Visitor Center and Jailhouse Museum | Carrizo Springs | Dimmit | |||
| Wade House Memorial Museum | Carrizo Springs | Dimmit | |||
| Duval County Historical Museum | San Diego | Duval | Local history | ||
| Frio Pioneer Jail Museum | Pearsal | Frio County | Built in 1884 |
Goliad - Guadalupe
| Museum name | Image | City | County | Notes | Refs |
| Berclair Mansion | Berclair | Goliad | Operated by the Beeville Art Association, 1930s mansion with art and antiques from around the world | ||
| Fannin Battleground State Historic Site | Fannin | Goliad | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark | ||
| Goliad State Park and Historic Site | Goliad | Goliad | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places | ||
| J. A. White Family Goliad Center for Texas History | Goliad | Goliad | |||
| Market House Museum | Goliad | Goliad | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places | ||
| Presidio La Bahía | Goliad | Goliad | National Register of Historic Places | ||
| Zaragoza Birthplace State Historic Site | Goliad | Goliad | State Antiquities Landmark | ||
| Eggleston House | Gonzales | Gonzales | 1840s period dog-run style cabin | ||
| Gonzales County Jail Museum | Gonzales | Gonzales | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places | ||
| Gonzales Memorial Museum | Gonzales | Gonzales | |||
| Gonzales Pioneer Village Living History Center | Gonzales | Gonzales | 10 historic structures | ||
| J.B. Wells House Museum | Gonzales | Gonzales | |||
| Pioneer Flight Museum | Kingsbury | Guadalupe | |||
| Los Nogales | Seguin | Guadalupe | 1849 adobe house, National Register Listing | ||
| Pape's Nutcracker Museum | Seguin | Guadalupe | Nutcrackers, bowls, and other items | ||
| Sebastopol House Historic Site | Seguin | Guadalupe | National Register Listing, | ||
| Seguin Guadalupe County Heritage Museum | Seguin | Guadalupe | |||
| Texas Agricultural Education and Heritage Center | Seguin | Guadalupe | blacksmith shop, smoke house, one-room schoolhouse and general store | ||
| Wilson Pottery Museum | Seguin | Guadalupe | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places. Museum is inside Sebastopol House Historic Site. |
Hidalgo
| Museum name | Image | City | County | Notes | Refs |
| City of Alamo Museum | Alamo | Hidalgo | |||
| Donna Hooks Fletcher Historical Museum | Donna | Hidalgo | |||
| Gelman Stained Glass Museum | San Juan | Hidalgo | |||
| International Museum of Art & Science (IMAS) | McAllen | Hidalgo | Art & science museum | ||
| McAllen Heritage Center | McAllen | Hidalgo | |||
| Mission Historical Museum | Mission | Hidalgo | |||
| Museum of South Texas History | Edinburg | Hidalgo | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark | ||
| Old Hidalgo Pumphouse Museum and World Birding Center | Hidalgo | Hidalgo | One of the World Birding Center sites | ||
| Smitty's Juke Box Museum | Pharr | Hidalgo | From the collection of Leo “Smitty” Schmitt and family | ||
| Southern Pacific Railroad Depot | Edinburg | Hidalgo | |||
| Weslaco Museum | Weslaco | Hidalgo | Area history from 18th-century Spanish colonial ranching to present da |
Jackson - Kleberg
| Museum name | Image | City | County | Notes | Refs |
| Texana Museum | Edna | Jackson | Local history | ||
| Franciscan Museum of Hebbronville | Hebbronville | Jim Hogg | Located in the old Jim Hogg County Jail | ||
| Museum Foundation of Hebbronville | Hebbronville | Jim Hogg | |||
| Orange Grove Area Museum | Orange Grove | Jim Wells | Non-profit teaching museum | ||
| South Texas Museum | Alice | Jim Wells | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark | ||
| Tejano R.O.O.T.S. Hall of Fame | Alice | Jim Wells | Tejano music | ||
| Third Coast Squadron Commemorative Air Force Museum | Alice | Jim Wells | History of the 3rd Coast Squadron of the Commemorative Air Force | ||
| Karnes County Museum | Helena | Karnes | Ghost town operated by the Karnes County Historical Society | ||
| St. Joseph School Museum | Panna Maria | Karnes | Late 19th-century private Polish school, exhibits of early Polish settlers, artifacts used in the church, family photos | ||
| Kenedy Ranch Museum of South Texas | Sarita | Kenedy | History of Mifflin Kenedy and the Kenedy family and the economic development of South Texas in ranching, railroads, land development and oil | ||
| Old Fort Clark Guardhouse Museum | Brackettville | Kinney | Fort history, local and pioneer history exhibits, displays from several African American military units, including the Black Seminole Scouts and the Buffalo Soldiers of the 24th and 25th U.S. Infantry | ||
| Kinney County Heritage Museum | Brackettville | Kinney | Operated by the Kinney County Historical Commission | ||
| 1904 Train Depot Museum | Kingsville | Kleberg | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark | ||
| John E. Conner Museum | Kingsville | Kleberg | Part of Texas A&M University–Kingsville, natural and cultural history of South | ||
| King Ranch Museum | Kingsville | Kleberg | History of the King Ranch | ||
| South Texas Archives | Kingsville | Kleberg | Affiliated with the James C. Jernigan Library of Texas A&M University-Kingsville |
La Salle - Medina
| Museum name | Image | City | County | Notes | Refs |
| Brush Country Museum | Cotulla | La Salle | Operated by the La Salle County Historical Commission | ||
| City of Shiner Edwin Wolters Memorial Museum | Shiner | Lavaca | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark | ||
| Lavaca Historical Museum | Hallettsville | Lavaca | |||
| Grace Armantrout Museum | George West | Live Oak | Local historical interest | ||
| Fort Duncan Museum | Eagle Pass | Maverick | National Register of Historic Places Listing | ||
| McMullen County Historical Museum | Tilden | McMullen | Everything is archived but available by appointment | ||
| Landmark Inn State Historic Site | Castroville | Medina | State Antiquities Landmark, National Register of Historic Places Listing | ||
| Medina County Museum | Hondo | Medina | |||
| Shooting Star Museum | Devine | Medina | Vintage aircraft, historical aviation items, antique automobiles and early 20th century farming equipment and gasoline engines | ||
| Steinbach Haus Visitor Center | Castroville | Medina | A 1998 gift to Castroville from Alsace, France, Das Haus Aus Elsass, was built in France in the 1600s. |
Nueces - Starr
| Museum name | Image | City | County | Notes | Refs |
| Art Center of Corpus Christi | Corpus Christi | Nueces | Community art center with exhibit galleries | ||
| Art Museum of South Texas | Corpus Christi | Nueces | Variety of American styles | ||
| Britton-Evans Centennial House | Corpus Christi | Nueces | Built in 1849 by shipping magnate Forbes Britton, who served in the Texas State Legislature 1857-1861 | ||
| Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History | Corpus Christi | Nueces | 40,000 square feet of exhibits | ||
| Heritage Park | Corpus Christi | Nueces | Historic Corpus Christi homes | ||
| K Space Contemporary | Corpus Christi | Nueces | Rotating art exhibitions | ||
| Selena Museum | Corpus Christi | Nueces | Music star Selena Quintanilla-Pérez | ||
| Port Aransas Museum | Port Aransas | Nueces | Memorabilia and artifacts | ||
| Tejano Civil Rights Museum | Corpus Christi | Nueces | |||
| Texas State Museum of Asian Cultures and Education Center | Corpus Christi | Nueces | |||
| Texas Surf Museum and South Texas Music Walk of Fame | Corpus Christi | Nueces | |||
| USS Lexington | Corpus Christi | Nueces | "The Blue Ghost", an built during World War II for the United States Navy | ||
| Real County Historical Museum | Leakey | Real | Log cabin, horse-drawn hearse, nearby blacksmith shop | ||
| Refugio County Museum | Refugio | Refugio | Local history | ||
| Blackland Museum | Taft | San Patricio | Local history | ||
| Sinton Texas Historical Museum | Sinton | San Patricio | Historical artifacts | ||
| Kelsey Bass Museum | Rio Grande City | Starr |
Uvalde - Victoria
| Museum name | Image | City | County | Notes | Refs |
| Aviation Museum at Garner Field | Uvalde | Uvalde | Military and civilian aircraft | ||
| Briscoe Art and Antique Collection | Uvalde | Uvalde | Collection of Governor and Mrs. Dolph Briscoe | ||
| Briscoe-Garner Museum | Uvalde | Uvalde | Located in the John Nance Garner House. Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places | ||
| El Progreso Memorial Library and Weisman Museum of Southwest Texas | Uvalde | Uvalde | |||
| Laughlin Heritage Foundation Museum | Del Rio | Val Verde | History of Laughlin Air Force Base | ||
| Seminole Canyon State Park and Historic Site | Comstock | Val Verde | National Register of Historic Places. Interpretive center about the park's Native American pictographs, cave dwellings and history | ||
| Judge Roy Bean Visitor Center | Langtry | Val Verde | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark | ||
| Whitehead Memorial Museum | Del Rio | Val Verde | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark | ||
| Children's Discovery Museum of the Golden Crescent | Victoria | Victoria | Children | ||
| Five Points Museum of Contemporary Art | Victoria | Victoria | Contemporary Art | ||
| Museum of the Coastal Bend | Victoria | Victoria | Heritage of Texas' mid-coastal region | ||
| Nave Museum | Victoria | Victoria | Works by architect Atlee Ayers, as well as other exhibits |
Webb - Zapata
| Museum name | Image | City | County | Notes | Refs |
| Casa Ortiz | Laredo | Webb | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark | ||
| Imaginarium of South Texas | Laredo | Webb | Children's museum | ||
| Laredo Center for the Arts | Laredo | Webb | Located in Market Square | ||
| Rio Grande Republic Capitol Building | Laredo | Webb | Recorded Texas Historic Landmark, National Register of Historic Places | ||
| Texas A&M International University Art Gallery | Laredo | Webb | |||
| Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum | Laredo | Webb | Part of the San Agustín Historic District | ||
| Washington's Birthday Celebration Museum | Laredo | Webb | For two weeks every February. Celebrates the birthday of America's first president with parades, fiewoorks and festivities | ||
| Willacy County Historical Museum | Raymondville | Willacy | Located in the old Raymondville High School | ||
| Mertens Frontier Ranch Store and Museum | Zapata | Zapata | Eclectic collection on the road to the Falcones Reservoir | ||
| Zapata County Museum of History | Zapata | Zapata | Local history and artifacts |
Defunct museums
- Alamo Village, Brackettville, movie and television shooting location, includes John Wayne Western Museum, closed in 2010
- Cool Cats Toy Museum, Corpus Christi
Resources
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