Photo: Entrance to the Witte Museum……Author
San Antonio’s Witte Museum opened on this day, October 8th in 1926, and celebrates it’s 95th birthday today.
In late September 1925, with $25,000 of approved funds, the city had already begun initial work on a museum in San Pedro Park, when it received notification that businessman Alfred G. Witte, a San Antonio barber, had bequeathed $65,000 to the city for the establishment of a museum in Brackenridge Park. He wished that it would house art, science and natural history artifacts, and would be built in memory of his parents, Real Estate Broker George Witte and his wife Mary Kleine Witte. Work was halted on the initial plan, and everything was re-evaluated..
Photo: Alfred G. Witte …courtesy of “Place Names of San Antonio” —David P Green
The original architects on the project Ayers & Ayers, who designed other notable buildings like the Tower Life building, the former Municipal Auditorium and the Plaza Hotel, then adapted their original museum specifications for the new project in Brackenridge Park.
Built on the site of the original Spanish Acequia Madre, the museum was the dream of botanist and teacher Ellen Schulz Quillin, who worked tirelessly to establish the museum during its early days in the 1920’s and 1930’s. In fact, she was so dedicated, she later managed the complex for a mere $1 per year, and during the Depression years, with limited funds coming forth from the City, exhibition halls were emptied for social events like dances, while outdoor bar-b-ques were held on the riverside grounds, and art classes were conducted, to raise necessary funds to to keep the museum viable.
In the early 1930’s, a reptile garden was opened, with visitors flocking to see the likes of alligators and snakes up close. The museum also became a valuable resource for the Anti-Venin Institute of America, as many ranchers were happy to bring rattlers caught on their properties to the museum.
A popular event that began in 1943 was the rattlesnake “fry”, and rattlesnake dinners were a successful fundraising event for 16 years. One of the popular items on the menu was a “rattleburger”.
During the 1940’s, three historic houses were relocated to the grounds of the museum. The Twohig House, originally from the site of the current Drury Inn & Suites on St Mary’s Street, the Navarro House and the Ruiz House, which served as San Antonio’s first school house from 1745. Two reproduction Texas log cabins were also built on the property for education purposes.
Photo: Twohig House at the Witte Museum…Author
Photo: Navarro House at the Witte Museum….Author
Photo: Ruiz House at the Witte Museum…San Antonio Registry
Photo: Log cabin at the Witte Museum…..Author
Currently stored at the Witte is the Hertzberg Circus collection. Made up of over 42,000 items, collected by Harry Hertzberg, a San Antonio lawyer, state senator, circus fan and memorabilia collector. It was previously on display for decades at the current site of the Briscoe Western Art Museum downtown on the Riverwalk, and it contains such items as posters, costumes, photographs and Tom Thumb’s miniature carriage.
Photo: A model carriage in the Hertzberg Circus Collection…Author
Over the decades, the Witte Museum has dedicated itself to detailing the fascinating history of Texas from prehistoric times to the present day, with fascinating displays of nature, culture and science.
Sources:
San Antonio Architecture, Traditions and Visions. American Institute of Architects.
San Antonio 365. David Martin Davies & Yvette D. Benavides
San Antonio—The Story of an Enchanted City. Frank W. Jennings
“Game Changers.” San Antonio Magazine. Ken Rodriguez
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