Witte Museum

I decided it was time to find some culture so I went to the Witte Museum on Broadway. I would pronounce it Wit but was told it is pronounced Wittey... 


I went on a Tuesday- free day. Discovered there was a Shipwreck exhibit and it sounded interesting so I paid the 5 bucks to see it. When I walked into the exhibit it was filled with small children running around excited by the pirate exhibit and the hurricane simulation machines. Oh, joy. Left the Shipwreck crowd to explore the museum. 


Hmm...Upstairs was a fashion exhibit with 1 mannequin dressed per decade from 1900-1980. Really. Just 1 outfit per decade and they were really sad. All the items were donated by people and I have the feeling some old ladies went through their closets and decided that instead of throwing out some of that old crap, they could instead get a tax deduction by donating it to the Witte. I am pretty sure some of the items weren't even old. Some shoes from the 60's described as "platforms" but they didn't have platforms and they did have a label that looked as though they were about 15 years old. I was the only one in that exhibit and I can understand why.

I did wander into one room that was more interesting and featured items from Texas including a Confederate flag and a spur collection. Interesting but I wish
there were more items. Seemed rather sparse.

Oh, I have to describe the "Museum Store." There were a few books about Texas...nice but they were on glass shelves that were covered in a  layer of dust. Most of the items for sale had to do with the Shipwreck exhibit... Skull and Crossbones items and toys for the kids. The postcard rack was almost empty and the selection was terrible. HEB has a better variety! The front of the store sells soda, chips and candy...more like a gas station convenience store than a museum store.  

I realized that I hadn't seen any art in this place and came home and did some research. In 1926 Alfred Witte left $65,000 for a museum in honor of his parents. His mother, Ellen D. was director for 34 years at the salary of one dollar per year. The museum focuses on natural history, anthropology and Texas and regional history. I guess I need to find an art museum now...