Witte Summer 2012

MEMBER NEWSLETTER
SUMMER 2012
Board of Trustees
Officers
Peggy W. Walker, Chair
Susan Lynch Pape, Vice Chair
Mark H. Metcalfe, Secretary
Richard “Rich” Prior, Treasurer
Don Gonzales, Assistant Treasurer
Michael J. “Mike” Bolner, Past Chair
Don Frost Ty Griesenbeck
J.J. Feik
Jack Judson
Carol Canty
Randy W. Petrosky
Joe Braley
Jack Stein
Lisa Rosenbloom
Jill Vassar
Trustees
Mary Margaret Amberson
Mary Arno
Craig Browning
Gloria Steves Dilley & Miguel Dilley
John Edwards
Walter Embrey
Milton Guess
Linda Leyendecker Gutierrez
Jim Halff
Agnes Harwood
Debbie Marino
Whitney Solcher Miller
Ryan Pape
Justin Peeler
Matt & Allison Proffitt
Manuel Quiñones
Kate Rogers
Amy Banner Saralegui
Edward Steves
Senior Staff
Marise McDermott
President & CEO
Bea Abercrombie
Director of Administrative Services
Bryan Bayles, Ph.D.
Curator of Anthropology
Kim Biffle
Director of Annual Fund
Amy Fulkerson
Curator of Collections
Sue Millican
Chief Financial Officer
Michelle Moon
Director of Special Events
Sarita Rodríguez
Director of Public Programs
Heather Welder Russo
Director of Major Gifts
Bruce Shackelford
Brown Foundation Curator
Mike Sprague
Director of Facilities
Shannon H. Standley
Director of Communications
From the President…
The time has finally arrived. The Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage
Center is about to open. Actors are rehearsing their lines for the Gallery Theater
performances you will see in the new Will Smith Amphitheater along the San Antonio
River, and demonstrations you will encounter throughout the Center. We are cleaning
the desks for the Will Smith Classroom, custom built to replicate 19th century oneroom school houses and sturdy enough to serve the thousands of school children
participating in the newly developed Texas History curriculum. New interactive student
programs include Wild and Vivid: Stories of the People - The Freighter and The
Rancher; Water Where You Want It, Food When You Need It; Oh, Build Me a Ranch;
and Power Tools! Barbed Wire and Windmills.
The exhibition teams are putting finishing touches on the Pepper’s Ghost Theater that will reveal the story of O. Scott
Petty and his inventions to recover pockets of gas beneath the salt domes of South Texas. They are cleaning the
saddles, fluffing the sheep wool, steadying the longhorn steer propped high on a berm, installing the brand interactive
and adjusting the volume of the many multi-media experiences illuminating the Wild and Vivid Land: Stories of South
Texas exhibition. There are many stories to share which will increase as the Center becomes layered from our visitors,
sharing the extraordinary moments of this legendary region.
The construction teams are polishing the brass handles and cleaning the glass throughout the new building, preparing
for you to experience the South Texas Heritage Center for your first of many visits. The beautiful building, designed
by architects Ford, Powell and Carson, with lead architect Chris Carson, and constructed by Guido Construction
Company, is one we are proud to debut for the South Texas community. This is your building and your story.
Witte Museum Board of Trustees Chair Peggy Walker along with Capital Campaign Chairs Don Frost and Ty
Griesenbeck, and Director of Major Gifts Heather Welder Russo and all Witte Trustees, have been working strenuously
over the past several years to ensure that the Center is completely underwritten when it opens. Building Chair J.J.
Feik has led the charge from design to the dreaded value engineering to the celebratory punch list process with a
steady hand.
Heather Russo has her office door wide open, ready to talk to any one of you who would like your name and brand
on the wall of honor in the new Center. Heather is working with the development team, Director of Annual Fund
Kim Biffle and Director of Special Events Michelle Moon, to create a series of pre-opening events for donors and
members, so watch your mailbox and your email for those notifications.
Curators Bruce Shackelford and Amy Fulkerson have worked around the clock for several years researching,
gathering information, choosing select artifacts from the Witte’s collection of 300,000 and talking to you about your
history. Content Editor Alexis Roberts, Visitor Experience Consultant Mimi Quintanilla, Director of Communications
Shannon Standley and Public Programs Director Sarita Rodriguez, along with South Texas Heritage Educator
Shenna Hayden oversaw the process. The education team developed delightful scripts for actors and inter-actors
at the Center (hint: you will learn how to properly use a bandana in not one, but a multitude of surprising ways). We
welcome Randall Webster, the new Director of Design and Exhibitions who began March 1 and has rarely left the
Center since that time, overseeing both building and exhibition installations. CFO Sue Millican, Facilities Director
Mike Sprague, Director of Administrative Services Bea Abercrombie and Director of Visitor Services Ralph Voight all
focused on the details of a successful project. Indeed, the entire Witte Museum team has been galvanized by the new
Center and stayed focused on the final touches over the past year, working weekends and rarely taking vacations.
I am very grateful for the professionalism and devotion of the Witte teams. It is a great privilege to work shoulder to
shoulder with such astonishingly creative and thoughtful museum professionals. Together, they developed a cultural
narrative that is pithy and dense, using the artifacts to reveal dramatic historic moments, from Spanish settlement to
Main Plaza mercantile and cattle trading to the vast land that became ranches, farms and oil and gas fields.
Through the development of the South Texas Heritage Center exhibition and program scripts, we have learned a great
deal from all of you, and for your time and your support, thank you. So, dust off those boots and get ready to walk on
the dirt of South Texas, inside the new Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center.
Ralph Voight
Director of Visitor Services
Randall Webster
Director of Design and Exhibitions
Sincerely,
MISSION STATEMENT
The Witte Museum promotes lifelong learning through
innovative exhibitions, programs and collections in
natural history, science and South Texas heritage.
Editor
Shannon Huntington Standley
Graphic Designer
Robert Gonzales
Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center
Marise McDermott, President & CEO
Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg
South Texas Heritage Center........................ p 3-7
Exhibitions………….………........................ p 8-9
Events………….......................................... p 10-13
Calendar of Events….………......................... p 14
The Witte’s ground-breaking exhibition, A Wild and Vivid Land: Stories of South Texas, takes its home in the South Texas
Heritage Center. This exhibition blends artifacts, the latest museum technology and real-life stories to trace the legendary
history of San Antonio and South Texas. Step back in time and see why this history is legendary through galleries dedicated to
ranching and farming, the Main Plaza in the 1840s, the oil and gas industry, horse culture and life along the border.
Bowie Knife, 1836, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Golson
As you pass through the immersive galleries, encounter historical personas sharing their stories. Hear the accounts of Tejano
freighters, chili queens, cowboys, vaqueros, Texas Indians, Spanish settlers, merchants, trail drivers, ranchers, farmers, oilmen
and women, gas industry leaders and the children who grew up on the land.
The Witte Museum is able to tell these important stories because of the vast collection of artifacts—cherished links to our
interwoven heritage. Through saddles, spurs, branding irons, basketry, historical clothing, land grants, art, firearms and many
more, the authentic stories of the men, women and children of South Texas come to life.
Additionally, the seminal 19th and 20th century early Texas Art Collection of the Witte Museum finds a dedicated gallery in
the South Texas Heritage Center. The Witte Museum is home to the oldest and most important collection of Texas Art which
documents historic frontier settlements and people and depicts the spectacular landscape. Texas subjects and patrons
influenced these artists to create works that are unique in vision and the vivid paintings continue to influence Texas artists today.
GRAND OPENING MAY 26!
South Texas was an untamed country, the birthplace of ranching empires that continue today and was the crucible from which
the American Cowboy emerged from his Vaquero forbearers. It’s time South Texas reclaimed the legendary story of this wild
and vivid land, and the Witte Museum is doing just that with the grand opening of the Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South
Texas Heritage Center.
This much-anticipated 20,000 square-foot, two-story Center serves as a permanent home for the Witte Museum’s South
Texas Collection, exhibitions and public programs. Other highlights include a grand two-story entry hall, classroom space for
educational programs for students, an outdoor amphitheater, sculptures and much more.
Market Plaza,1879, Thomas Allen, Oil on canvas,Witte Museum Collection
3
4
GRAND OPENING WEEKEND
Join us for a three-day grand opening celebration featuring hands-on activities, brand new live Gallery Theater,
demonstrations and mini-demonstrations, and visits from Bandera on the Road and the San Antonio Living History
Association! All activities are included with museum general admission.
Live Gallery Theater
Mini-Demonstrations
• Vaquero y Cowboy
• Longhorn Connection
• 1838: A Moment Between Wars
Tools of the Trade
• Bandanas: Explore the many uses of a cowboy bandana
• Hats and Sombreros: Examine a cowboy hat and a
sombrero to discover their importance.
• Gourds and Canteens: Investigate the many containers that
carry the most important resource in South Texas—water.
• Spurs: Do you know there are different types of spurs?
Examine three different types and find out their many uses.
Demonstrations
• Ropes and Brands: Explore the ways cowboys and
vaqueros used ropes and the different types they used.
Learn how to use a branding iron and change a brand with a
running iron.
• Chuckbox Cuisine: Find out who the “Bean Wrangler” is
and what he might carry in a chuckbox.
• Dressing for the Job: Cowboys and vaqueros had to wear
clothing for protection from the South Texas landscape. Try
on some chaps, boots and hats to find out how these items
will protect you from the landscape.
Presented by
Saturday, May 26
Registration: 7 a.m.
Fun Run: 8 a.m. | Boot Scoot: 9:15 a.m.
Register online at www.WitteMuseum.org.
Put on your running shoes and join us for the Witte’s
newest event, the Witte Museum Boot Scoot & 5K
Run! This early morning fun run through Brackenridge
Park kicks off the grand opening festivities. This fun
run is not like any other run in town! This one has a
special Witte twist—everyone is encouraged to change
into boots after the run for a boot scoot at 9:15 a.m.
along the front of the museum.
5
San Antonio Living History Association
• Interact with living history entertainers
• Explore how gun flints were made
• Much more!
Event Fees
$25:Adults
$5:
Children (10 & under)
$55: Boot Scoot Family 4 Pack
(2 adults and 2 children)
$25: Race From My Pillow (T-shirt included)
$20: Team Entry
(10 person minimum, all registered at once)
$30: Race Day registration
Proceeds from the fun run will underwrite school field
trips to the Witte Museum. Sponsorship opportunities
are still available at the $5,000, $2,500, $1,200 and $500
levels. Please call 210.357.1922 for more information.
The Witte Museum Boot Scoot and 5K Run is proudly
sponsored by
Casey Roy Design
The Law Office of Lisa S. Miller
Brown and Ortiz, P.C.
Paul L. Slattery, DDS, Family & Cosmetic Dentistry
Quick Glance
Bandera on the Road
• Cowboy/Cowgirl Dress-up • Rocking Horse Rides
• Washer Pitching • Roping • Leather Stamping
• Chuck Wagon • Folk Toys • Horse Interaction
• Stick Horse Barrel Races • Live Music • Storytelling
• Trick Roping Performance
World of Witte Birthday Parties
May 17, 6:30-9 p.m.
Quillin Society
Preview
May 23 and 24, 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Members’ Exclusive
Preview
May 26, 8 a.m.
Witte Museum Boot Scoot
& 5K Run
WANTED: Cowboys & Cowgirls!
*NEW* Round up your partners and mosey on over to the
Witte for a rootin’ tootin’ good time with the new Western
Party package add-on! This exclusive offer can be added
onto any World
of Witte Birthday
Party package or
host a grand ol’
Western Party that’s
sure to be a hit with
family and friends.
Party Packages start
at only $180!
Western Party add-on
starts at only $100!
To verify date availability
or for more information
call 210.357.1866.
6
May 26, 10 a.m.
Official Ribbon-Cutting
Ceremony
May 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
May 27, Noon-5 p.m.
May 28, 10 a.m.-5 p.m.
GRAND OPENING WEEKEND
Live Gallery Theater
Demonstrations and Mini-Demonstrations
Bandera on the Road
San Antonio Living History Association
6
EVENTS
Continue the Celebration
This Summer!
The Witte Museum thanks the following friends who
have contributed to the success of the
Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas
Heritage Center:
*Time Travel Saturdays*
Noon-4 p.m. Included with museum admission.
Saturday, June 16
On the Trail
Act like one, live like one, be one…a cowboy or vaquero on
the trail in South Texas! Find out the needs and uses of ropes,
bandanas, hats and canteens. Explore the tack and gear
used with live animals and taste authentic chuck box cuisine.
Plus, meet Bandera on the Road, a group of real cowboys
from Bandera, Texas—the Cowboy Capital of the World!
Saturday, July 21
A Day in the Market
Go shopping in a San Antonio market in the late 1800s. Meet
seamstresses and soap makers selling their wares, shop for
gun flint and brooms, try aguas frescas and fresh tortillas and
find out what $3 could buy.
Saturday, August 18
Tall Tales and Cowboy Songs
Have you ever been taken by a tall tale? Join us for some
Texans spinning yarns – those great Texas Tall Tales! Sing
along to traditional South Texas music, find out how to
write a cowboy song or poem and try your hand at playing
instruments that may have been played on the trail.
Robert J. Kleberg, Jr. and Helen
R. J. Welder Ranch, Ltd. in honor
C. Kleberg Foundation
of Heather and Raymond Welder
Governor Dolph Briscoe*
T Bar L Ranches in memory of
Greehey Family Foundation
Travis H. Lynch
Ewing Halsell Foundation
Michelle and A. H. Cadwallader
Mays Family Foundation
Leighton and James Donnell
The Nordan Trust
in memory of Roy
Scott Petty Foundation
Beall Lowe and James W. Donnell
Will Smith Foundation
Perry Donop
Frost Bank Charitable Foundation
Downie Ranch, est. 1881
The Sally and Alex* Halff Family
Jack and Linde Judson
C. H. Guenther & Son, Inc.
Richard M. Kleberg III Family
Institute of Museum and Library
Virginia Nicholas
Services
Joseph Orr in memory of William
Russell Hill Rogers Fund for the
Green Butler
Arts
San Antonio de Mira Flores
Tobin Endowment
Ranch, est. 1897
McCombs Foundation
The Sellers Family in memory of
Nora and Steve Burkhart
William Jefferson Porter
Jessica and Henry Catto*
Ida Clement
Mary West and Richard Traylor
Betty Culhane
Dickson-Allen Foundation
Santa Fe East
Laura and Sam Dawson
Lou Celia and Don Frost
City of San Antonio
Pat and Tom Frost
AT&T
Henrietta Hildebrand
The Summerlee Foundation
Janey Briscoe Marmion
Kathy and Ty Griesenbeck
Linda Nixon Seeligson
The Guido Family in honor of
Edwin M. Jones Foundation
Antoinette and Cosmo Guido
Frankie and Charles Dicke
Kathleen and Curtis Gunn
Missy Finck
Lou Eda Korth Nixon
John Jockusch
Mr. and Mrs. Alonzo Peeler, Jr in
Ida Mae and Billy Wayne Kaiser
memory of
Bonnie Sue and Donald Jacobs
Alonzo Peeler Sr.
Julie and Justin Peeler in honor of
Gifts as of April 16, 2012
Alonzo Peeler, Jr.
*deceased
Lindsay Ranch, Ltd.
For more information call 210.357.1900 or
visit www.WitteMuseum.org
7
Through August 26 | Betty Coates Textile Gallery
Explore the designs behind the Order of the Alamo Coronation from the gowns to the
stage in the Witte Museum’s annual fiesta exhibit. In addition to the bejeweled fiesta
gowns, the exhibit features scale models and designs for the coronation stage as well
as the designs for the gowns.
The highlight of this year’s exhibition, and inspiration for the Witte’s 2012 Fiesta pin, is
the gown worn by Marcella Leanora Heard Billups, Princess of the Glory and Grandeur
of France in the 1993 Court of the Napoleonic Empire. The gown features sparkling
gold bees with gold trim and a deep purple velvet background.
Designed for Royalty is generously supported by the Fiesta® San Antonio Commission and the
City of San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs.
Family Traditions: Easter in Brackenridge Park
Through May 27 | Focus Gallery
Partnering with the Brackenridge Park Conservancy (BPC),
the Witte presents this exhibition of photographs depicting the
traditional week-long Easter celebrations in Brackenridge Park,
taken by Dr. Ricardo Romo, President of the University of Texas
at San Antonio.
In 2011, the BPC asked Dr. Romo to spend his Easter weekend
in Brackenridge Park, taking photographs and talking to families
as they enjoyed a uniquely San Antonio celebration filled
with camping, cook-outs, cascarones and piñatas. Easter in
Brackenridge Park is a special time, marked by rich history and
meaningful family traditions. In fact, many families continue to
claim the same park spot for decades, and there is evidence of
camping along the San Antonio River dating back 8,000 years.
The Brackenridge Park Conservancy was founded in 2009 with a
mission to preserve and enhance Brackenridge Park’s resources
for the use and enjoyment of current and future generations.
Documenting the park’s unique resources and traditions, such as the week-long Easter celebration enjoyed by thousands,
expands awareness of the park’s role in the community and increases support for the park.
8
EVENTS
EXHIBITIONS
The Louis A. and Frances B. Wagner Lecture Series:
Darwin in Depth
Darwin’s Dilemma: When Science and Faith Collide
Wednesday, June 6, 6-8 p.m.
Through September 3, 2012
Kathleen and Curtis Gunn Gallery
Explore the life and discoveries of a man whose insights led to the theory of
evolution, forever changing the perception of the origin and nature of our own
species and launching modern biological science. Darwin is an internationally
acclaimed exhibit making its first Texas stop at the Witte Museum.
Glimpse into Darwin’s intellectual and personal world through specimens,
skeletons, fossils, interactive media, exact replicas of his personal effects, a
reconstruction of his study, a live land iguana and live South American horned frogs! Plus, experience the
wonders Darwin witnessed on his historic five-year voyage as an adventurous young man aboard the HMS
Beagle to South America, the Galapagos Islands and beyond.
There is a $5 surcharge in addition to museum general admission for Darwin.
Darwin at the Witte Museum is generously supported by the William Knox Holt Foundation, the Joan and Herb Kelleher Charitable
Foundation, Chris Cheever, Great Events and Rentals, Fresh Horizons Creative Catering and the City of San Antonio Office of Cultural
Affairs. Darwin is organized by the American Museum of Natural History, New York (www.amnh.org) in collaboration with The Field
Museum, Chicago; the Denver Museum of Nature and Science, The Museum of Science Boston; The Royal Ontario Museum and the
Natural History Museum of London.
If the River Could Talk:
12,000 Years of Life on the San Antonio River
June 16 through August 12 | Piper Memorial Wing
The Witte Museum is proud to partner with the San Antonio River Authority (SARA) to present a unique exhibit
highlighting many remarkable archeological finds discovered as part of the San Antonio River Improvements
Project.
Coinciding with SARA’s 75th anniversary celebration,
this exhibit boasts rare artifacts including
fossils, stone tools and even a 122 year-old
preserved message in a bottle. Illuminating
the story of the abundant natural and
cultural resources that make the San
Antonio River so vital to our region, If the
River Could Talk gives visitors insights into
the river’s ecology, the relevance of each artifact and the archaeological science that unearthed these treasures.
Many of the rare artifacts on display are being seen by the public for the first time since their excavation.
If the River Could Talk is generously supported by the San Antonio River Authority, San Antonio River Foundation and the City of San
Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs.
9
Much like the work of Galileo, Newton and Einstein, Charles Darwin’s theory of evolution challenged some of society’s
deepest held beliefs about our place in the universe. Is nature the reflection of a divine process, a natural one or both? Can
science and faith coexist? Darwin, his wife and their contemporaries struggled deeply with these same questions. Join us
for a distinguished panel of scientists, educators and theologians to discuss the often controversial relationship between
science and religion.
*NEW* Livestock Breeding in Texas: Darwin’s Ideas at Work
Wednesday, July 18, 6-8 p.m.
Due to popularity, the Witte has added another presentation to the Darwin in Depth Lecture Series. Join us for the final
installment at the brand new outdoor Will Smith Amphitheater of the Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage
Center. From the earliest cattle brought to Texas by the Spanish Conquistadors to the King Ranch’s legendary Santa
Gertrudis—the first officially recognized new breed of beef cattle in America—livestock breeding has been at the center of
our South Texas heritage. Experimenting and observing the process of ‘artificial selection,’ whereby desirable traits were
selected and perpetuated, provided key insights which led to Darwin’s theory of evolution by natural selection. Come see
real, live Texas cattle up close and hear the Witte Museum’s Brown Foundation Curator Bruce Shackelford and Curator of
Anthropology Bryan Bayles, Ph.D., discuss Darwin and the history and future of Texas livestock breeding.
Admission is free for Darwin in Depth. Reservations are required, call 210.357.1910.
The Darwin exhibit will open until 6 p.m., the $5 surcharge applies.
Texas Nature Challenge at the
Witte Museum
Saturday, June 2, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Friday, June 15, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Tuesday, July 24, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Get ready to complete a nature challenge by exploring
the South Texas environment at the Witte while
visiting the Texas Wild exhibit, the Edwards Aquifer
Simulation Theater and the new Robert J. and Helen
C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center.
Meet the ever popular Doc Edwards and enjoy the
dynamic presentation Doc Edwards’™ Amazing
Aquifer Adventure. Visit the Texas Nature Challenge at
http://naturechallenge.tamu.edu/ to print out the Witte
Museum challenge or ask for a copy at the Witte front
desk. The Texas Nature Challenge is included with
museum general admission.
The Texas Nature Challenge is a regional collaboration of parks
and nature areas coordinated by the Agri-Life Extension and the
Texas Forest Services, The A&M University System. Doc Edwards
presentation are sponsored by the Edwards Aquifer Authority.
10
EVENTS
EVENTS
Summer Adventure Camp
Choose your own summer adventure!
Gear up for a week-long or day-long exploration in ecology, history or science.
Experience the Witte Museum after hours during an evening exclusively
for adults (21 and older) that mixes cocktails, conversation and innovative
museum cultural programming. The evening showcases unique experiences,
from science experiments for adults to “blind” tours of museum galleries!
Complete with complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar, don’t miss live
performances, interesting music, unexpected surprises and more. Leave the
kids at home and meet friends or bring a date.
Admission is $20 in advance or at the door and $15 for museum members.
For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.WitteMuseum.org or
call 210.357.1910.
Save the Date:
May 31: June 28: July 26: Campfire Fandango
Kaleidoscope of Chemistry
Wild Senses—Back by Popular Demand!
Survival …on the Wild and Vivid Land
July 9-13, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
First discover how early Pecos people made fire, hunted and used plants to make rope.
Then put on your cowboy hat to explore life on the ranch! Design your own brand,
practice roping and find out the secret of the prickly pear burner. Interact with live
animals including Texas Longhorns, horses and other ranch animals. It’s all about the
South Texas land!
Sensational Summer Science!
July 16-20, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Do you sometimes ask yourself: How do things work? Make catapults to find out how
fast things can move, use human energy to make lights glow, sink a ship to find out
how things float and sink and cool down, fire up and mix it up with a fun-filled week of
summer science!
Birds, Beetles and Other Beasties…It’s All About Nature
July 23-27, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Pack your gear for a five day journey with Darwin around the world and to the
Galapagos. Create your own habitat and creatures to live there! Discover the food web
by dissecting owl pellets. It’s all about nature…birds, deadly plants and more!
Designed for children in grades 1-2 and 3-5. Cost per week is $180 for members and $230 for nonmembers; cost per day is $45 for members and $55 for non-members. For more information and to make
reservations call 210.357.1910.
Sunday Jazz at the Witte is back for its eighth season! Kicked off by the UIW Jazz Ensemble in April, this season’s line up
brings out some of the best local and regional bands jazz has to offer. Bring the family and enjoy a relaxing afternoon in the
calming courtyard, lay down your blankets or lawn chairs and enjoy the outdoors. All performances^ are from 4 7 p.m. Museum galleries close at 5 p.m., however, the H-E-B Science Treehouse remains open until 7 p.m. Food and drink
available for purchase by Picante Grill. Sunday Jazz at the Witte is included with museum general admission. Admission is
free for Witte and KRTU members.
Performance Schedule*:
May 13:
June 10: July 8: August 12: September 9:
October 28^: November 11:
The Three Divas ~Year of Jazz Concert~
South Texas Jazz Quartet
Mission City Hot Rhythm Cats
Graham Reynolds and Golden Arm Trio
John Magaldi & Primetime Jazz Orchestra
Ken Slavin
Henry Brun and the Latin Playerz
*subject to change
^please note the October concert is at a special time, 3-6 p.m., and on the 4th Sunday of the month
Sponsored by Gunn Auto and presented in conjunction with Trinity University’s all-jazz radio station, Jazz 91.7.
11
Celebrating National Clown Week with the Jolly Joeys
Sunday, July 29, 1-4 p.m.
Spend the afternoon with San Antonio’s own Clown Alley, the Jolly Joeys. Learn to juggle
and make juggling balls, have your face painted, create balloon animals and enjoy clown
performances.
In 1970, President Nixon passed the law to observe National Clown Week for recognition
of the valuable service clowns provide. The Witte Museum, home to the famous Hertzberg
Circus Collection, honors this week with a great clown celebration! Celebrating National
Clown Week is included with museum general admission.
Amazing Skies
Saturday, August 4, Noon-5 p.m.
Held in collaboration with the Urban Science Initiative, this interactive science program
focuses on astronomy and space science. This is an exciting opportunity for children and
their families to learn about space science, space exploration, the planets, stars and the
men and women who have traveled in space. Featuring telescopes and exhibits from
the San Antonio Astronomical Association, this experience includes numerous handson activities, exhibits, rocket launches and an opportunity to meet and hear a NASA
astronaut and space scientist. Amazing Skies is included with museum general admission.
12
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
EVENTS
MAY
Witte Society Summer
7th Annual
Burgers, Bottles and Beer
Music and
Margaritas
Friday, June 15, 6-8:30 p.m.
Friday, August 3, 6-9 p.m.
Presented by
With the arrival of summer brings the
return of the favorite family event, Burgers,
Bottles and Beer. Join us for this casual
outdoor party featuring grilled burgers,
hot dogs, salads and all the extras. The
Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas
Heritage Center will remain open for afterhours viewing. Call 210.357.1922 or email
[email protected] for more
information. Reservations are required for
this event.
Witte Museum Announces
Date and Chairs for
42nd Annual Witte Game Dinner
The Witte Society’s newest family event,
Music and Margaritas is back by popular
demand. When the sun goes down, the
Witte backyard will be transformed into
an island paradise perfect for the entire
family with food, drinks, live music and
good times. Call 210.357.1922 or email
[email protected] for more
information. Reservations are required for
this event.
Presented by
Monday, October 15, 2012, 6-10:30 p.m.
Save the date for the 42nd Annual Witte Game Dinner! Join us
as the Witte Game Dinner festivities spill onto the grounds of the
museum’s newest addition, the Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg
South Texas Heritage Center. The lush, new Jessica and Henry
Catto Memorial Garden and surrounding grounds will allow
Game Dinner guests to enjoy the night under the canopy of the
majestic oaks and stately cypress trees along the banks of the
San Antonio River.
The Witte is delighted to announce the 2012 Witte Game Dinner
chairs, Gloria Steves Dilley and Miguel Dilley. Gloria joins the
Game Dinner as a second generation Game Dinner chair. Her
parents, Nancy and Edward Steves were Game Dinner chairs in
1986. The Dilleys invite you to join them as the grounds come to
life with live and silent auctions, live music, dancing and delicious
South Texas culinary favorites.
All proceeds from the Witte Game Dinner provide valuable operational support for San Antonio’s oldest museum. Call today
to reserve your table, purchase individual tickets or inquire about sponsorship opportunities. For more information call
210.357.1922 or visit www.WitteMuseum.org.
13
May 13, 4-7 p.m.
Sunday Jazz at the Witte
*Year of Jazz Concert*
The Three Divas
Included with museum admission
May 17, 6:30-9 p.m.
Quillin Society Preview
Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg
South Texas Heritage Center
Call 210.357.1860 for more information
May 23 and 24, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Members’ Preview
Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg
South Texas Heritage Center
Call 210.357.1863 for more information
May 26, 8 a.m.
Witte Museum Boot Scoot
and 5K Fun Run
Call 210.357.1922 for information
May 26-28
*GRAND OPENING*
Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg
South Texas Heritage Center
Included with museum admission
May 31, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Cocktails and Culture: The Witte Uncorked!
Campfire Fandango
$20 in advance or at the door;
$15 for Witte members
Call 210.357.1910 for information
Through May 27
Family Traditions:
Easter in Brackenridge Park
Focus Gallery
Included with museum admission
Through August 26
Designed for Royalty:
Staging the Coronation
Betty Coates Textile Gallery
Included with museum admission
Through September 3
Darwin: How One Man’s Theory
Turned the World on its Head
Kathleen and Curtis Gunn Gallery
$5 surcharge
JUNE
June 2, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Texas Nature Challenge
Doc Edwards’™
Amazing Aquifer Adventure
Included with museum admission
June 6, 6-8 p.m.
Darwin in Depth
Darwin’s Dilemma:
When Science and Faith Collide
Free admission
Reservations required, 210.357.1910
June 10, 4-7 p.m.
Sunday Jazz at the Witte
South Texas Jazz Quartet
Included with museum admission
June 15, 2 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Texas Nature Challenge
Doc Edwards’™
Amazing Aquifer Adventure
Included with museum admission
June 15, 6-8:30 p.m.
Witte Society
7th Annual Burgers, Bottles and Beer
Call 210.357.1922 for information
June 16, Noon-4 p.m.
Time Travel Saturdays
On the Trail
Included with museum admission
June 16 through August 12
If the River Could Talk: 12,000 Years
of Life on the San Antonio River
Piper Memorial Wing
Included with museum admission
June 28, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Cocktails and Culture: The Witte Uncorked!
Kaleidoscope of Chemistry
$20 in advance or at the door;
$15 for Witte members
Call 210.357.1910 for information
Through August 26
Designed for Royalty:
Staging the Coronation
Betty Coates Textile Gallery
Included with museum admission
Through September 3
Darwin: How One Man’s Theory
Turned the World on its Head
Kathleen and Curtis Gunn Gallery
$5 surcharge
JULY
July 8, 4-7 p.m.
Sunday Jazz at the Witte
Mission City Hot Rhythm Cats
Included with museum admission
July 9-13, 8:30-5:30 p.m.
Summer Adventure Camp
Survival …on the Wild and Vivid Land
Call 210.357.1910 for information
July 16-20, 8:30-5:30 p.m.
Summer Adventure Camp
Sensational Summer Science!
Call 210.357.1910 for information
July 18, 6-8 p.m.
Darwin in Depth
Livestock Breeding in Texas:
Darwin’s Ideas at Work
Free admission
Reservations required, 210.357.1910
July 21, Noon-4 p.m. Time Travel Saturdays
A Day in the Market
Included with museum admission
July 23 -27, 8:30-5:30 p.m.
Summer Adventure Camp
Birds, Beetles and Other Beasties…
It’s All About Nature
Call 357.1910 for information
July 24, 5 p.m. and 6 p.m.
Texas Nature Challenge
Doc Edwards’™
Amazing Aquifer Adventure
Included with museum admission
July 26, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Cocktails and Culture: The Witte Uncorked!
Wild Senses
$20 in advance or at the door;
$15 for Witte members
Call 210.357.1910 for information
July 29, 1-4 p.m.
Celebrating National Clown Week
with the Jolly Joeys
Included with museum admission
Through August 12
If the River Could Talk: 12,000 Years
of Life on the San Antonio River
Piper Memorial Wing
Included with museum admission
Through August 26
Designed for Royalty:
Staging the Coronation
Betty Coates Textile Gallery
Included with museum admission
Through September 3
Darwin: How One Man’s Theory
Turned the World on its Head
Kathleen and Curtis Gunn Gallery
$5 surcharge
AUGUST
August 3, 6-9 p.m.
Witte Society
Music and Margaritas
Call 210.357.1922 for information
August 4, Noon-5 p.m.
Amazing Skies
Included with museum admission
August 12, 4-7 p.m.
Sunday Jazz at the Witte
Graham Reynolds and Golden Arm Trio
Included with museum admission
August 18, Noon-4 p.m.
Time Travel Saturdays
Tall Tales and Cowboy Songs
Included with museum admission
Through August 12
If the River Could Talk: 12,000 Years
of Life on the San Antonio River
Piper Memorial Wing
Included with museum admission
Through August 26
Designed for Royalty:
Staging the Coronation
Betty Coates Textile Gallery
Included with museum admission
Through September 3
Darwin: How One Man’s Theory
Turned the World on its Head
Kathleen and Curtis Gunn Gallery
$5 surcharge
*COMING SOON*
Opening September 29!
14
3801 Broadway
San Antonio, Texas 78209
NON-PROFIT
ORGANIZATION
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
PERMIT #1506
S.A.T.X.
Contact Us
General Information
210.357.1900
Group Reservations
210.357.1910
Event Rentals
210.357.1896
Membership
210.357.1863
Keep up with everything
happening at the Witte!
www.WitteMuseum.org
the Witte on
Free Tuesdays at the Witte are generously supported by Bolner’s Fiesta Products, Inc. and Macy’s. The Witte Museum’s Public Programs are supported, in part, by grants from
the Capital Group Companies Charitable Foundation and The Boeing Company. Scholarship support is provided by the Rackspace Hosting and the Texas Cavaliers Charitable
Foundation. The Witte Museum also receives general operational support from the City of San Antonio Office of Cultural Affairs, the Albert and Bessie Mae Kronkosky Charitable
Foundation, Bank of America Neighborhood Excellence Initiative, the Dickson-Allen Foundation, the USAA Foundation, the Bank of America Foundation, the Edouard Foundation,
the CarMax Foundation and the Knight Foundation.
Are Cowboys, Outlaws and Chili Queens on Your Next Guest List?
If Not, They Should Be.
The Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg
South Texas Heritage Center will
provide immersive and engaging
experiences of real-life stories of South
Texas in a picturesque two-story glass
atrium overlooking the San Antonio
River. Be among the first to host an
event in San Antonio’s newest river
front venue. Use of the South Texas
Heritage Center also includes outside
gardens and a natural limestone
amphitheater.
The Witte Museum also allows guests
to rent the entire museum facility in
the evenings for private events and is
conveniently located only minutes from
Downtown in a tranquil area of San
Antonio. For more information or to
schedule a personal tour of this unique
setting for any special event
call 210.357.1896 or
visit www.WitteMuseum.org.