Witte Museum

THE WITTE MUSEUM WILL IMPROVE CARE OF 50,000 ARTIFACTS FROM THE TEXAS HISTORY COLLECTION THROUGH CATALOGING, REHOUSING AND ENHANCING COLLECTIONS MANAGEMENT. THIS PROJECT BUILDS ON A RECENTLY COMPLETED CONCEPT PLAN FOR A NEW INTERPRETIVE STRATEGY THAT WILL REVEAL THE HISTORY OF TEXAS THROUGH INDIVIDUAL, FAMILIAL, AND GENERATIONAL STORIES ENSURING THAT ALL VISITORS SEE THEMSELVES REPRESENTED IN THE HISTORY GALLERIES. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE PURCHASING A METAL SHELVING SYSTEM, AND TRAINING VOLUNTEERS TO PROCESS ARTIFACTS, UPDATE CATALOG RECORDS, AND REHOUSE THE OBJECTS IN THE NEW STORAGE EQUIPMENT. OBJECTS THAT WILL BE REHOUSED INCLUDE FURNITURE, CERAMICS, GLASSWARE, DECORATIVE ARTS, FOOD TINS AND COMMERCIAL PRODUCTS, FASHION ACCESSORIES, MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS, TOOLS FOR VARIOUS FORMS OF LABOR, AND ENTERTAINMENT ARTIFACTS. AS A RESULT, MUSEUM STAFF WILL BE BETTER ABLE TO PLAN EXHIBITIONS AND ROTATE A WIDER VARIETY OF ARTIFACTS WHICH WILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF STORIES THAT CAN BE SHARED IN THE GALLERIES AND UPDATED AS NEW SCHOLARSHIP EMERGES.

THE WITTE MUSEUM WILL IMPROVE THE CONSERVATION AND PRESERVATION OF ITS PALEONTOLOGY AND GEOLOGY COLLECTIONS TO SUPPORT CONTINUED FOSSIL PREPARATION FOR NEW FOSSIL FINDS AND ACQUISITIONS. THE PROJECT CONSISTS OF THREE COMPONENTS: (1) CATALOG THE CURRENT COLLECTION WITH UPDATED IDENTIFYING AND CONTEXTUAL INFORMATION, (2) ASSESS EACH SPECIMEN?S CONDITION AND CONSERVATION NEEDS, AND (3) REHOUSE THE SPECIMENS IN SPECIALIZED MUSEUM STORAGE CABINETS WITH CONSERVATION-GRADE STORAGE MATERIALS AND METHODS. THIS PROJECT WILL INCREASE THE WITTE MUSEUM?S CAPACITY TO STEWARD ITS COLLECTION USING MUSEUM BEST PRACTICES; ENHANCE ITS ROLE AS A STATE AND FEDERAL REPOSITORY; AND INCREASE THE ACCESSIBILITY OF THE COLLECTION FOR SCHOLARS AND RESEARCHERS.

CONG. SETASIDES MUSEUMS

REINTERPRETING TEXAS AT THE WITTE MUSEUM, WHERE NATURE, SCIENCE AND CULTURE MEET

THE WITTE MUSEUM IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, WILL STRENGTHEN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN ITS H-E-B BODY ADVENTURE, AN INNOVATIVE MODEL OF COLLABORATIVE MUSEUM-CIVIC ENGAGEMENT THAT PROVIDES ESSENTIAL DATA TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH. THE EXHIBITION ANSWERS A COMMUNITY-WIDE CALL FOR SOLUTIONS TO A CHILDHOOD OBESITY EPIDEMIC, USING DIGITAL TECHNOLOGIES TO DELIVER HEALTH EDUCATION MESSAGES PLAYFULLY AND POWERFULLY IN A SUPPORTIVE, NONJUDGMENTAL ENVIRONMENT. THE MUSEUM WILL INVIGORATE THE EXHIBITION EXPERIENCE BY REDESIGNING AND UPGRADING THE YOU ARE WHAT YOU DRINK AND SOUTH TEXAS TRAILBLAZE COMPONENTS AND ADDING A VIRTUAL TAG ELEMENT FOCUSED ON HEART HEALTH AND PHYSICAL ACTIVITY. IN RESPONSE TO THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND COMMUNITY HEALTH NEEDS DEFINED BY SAN ANTONIO'S METROPOLITAN HEALTH DISTRICT, THE MUSEUM WILL INTEGRATE VACCINE AWARENESS INTO THE EXHIBITION CONTENT.