2018 Save Texas History Symposium — Witte Museum Exhibition Reception

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Save Texas History

4 min readAug 6, 2018

Registration for the ninth annual Save Texas History Symposium includes the opportunity to attend a reception at the Witte Museum to celebrate the conclusion of the GLO’s map exhibition, Connecting Texas: 300 Years of Trails, Rails, and Roads. A shuttle will board at the Menger Hotel at 6:30 on Saturday, September 15, to transport attendees to the Witte Museum for the reception, which will be from 7:00–9:00 and include beverages and light snacks.

Bruce Shackelford (left) and Dr. Andés Tijerina (right) will speak at the Witte Museum exhibit closing reception.

Attendees will have the opportunity to enjoy a special private viewing of the exhibit, which will include two speakers: Bruce Shackelford, Curator of Texas History at the Witte Museum; and Dr. Andrés Tijerina, Historian for the Witte Museum exhibit, Confluence and Culture: 300 Years of San Antonio History. The speakers will discuss the continuing partnership between the Witte Museum and the GLO, as well as Confluence and Culture and San Antonio’s tricentennial.

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THE SYMPOSIUM

Connecting Texas, which has been on display since February 15, features over 40 maps and documents, representing over 300 years of Texas history. It is installed in the Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center, and features maps that examine how explorers, Native Americans, armies, immigrants, and early settlers moved in, around, and across Texas over the last three centuries. The exhibit also celebrates the tricentennial anniversary of San Antonio’s founding, and emphasizes the integral role of the city to political, cultural, and economic movement through time.

“Connecting Texas: 300 Years of Trails, Rails, and Roads will be an important addition to the Witte Museum’s Tricentennial focus,” said Marise McDermott, President and CEO of the Witte Museum. “This exhibition highlights complexity of the pathways that symbolize the many cultures that found a place in the land we now call Texas, and is another way to reflect on the past 300 years of San Antonio’s history.”

The works in this exhibition are mainly from the archival collection of the Texas General Land Office, and from the private map collection of Frank and Carol Holcomb of Houston, who are lending eight maps for this exhibition. Additionally, there is material on loan from private collectors Ted & Sharon Lusher of Austin, and Bill Price of Houston.

“This exhibition is a wonderful partnership among multiple institutions and private individuals,” said Land Commissioner George P. Bush. “While citizens are always invited to visit the Texas General Land Office Archives in Austin for a tour, having the maps promoted by and displayed in world-class facilities like the Witte Museum, elevates and amplifies our message. It allows thousands of school children, historians and all Texans in the world to see this Texas history up close, and hopefully it inspires them for the future.”

Space is limited for the reception — please register early for the Symposium and indicate that you plan to attend. Don’t miss your chance to see this exhibition before it closes!