Updated: 5/30/2012 
South Texas Museum
Alice, Texas
Description

The South Texas Museum building was once the headquarters of the McGill Brothers ranching interests.

Built in 1941, the building’s exterior style is reminiscent of the Alamo. It is built of concrete and stone cut from the Texas Hill Country northwest of San Antonio. If the walls of this building could talk, they would be able to tell you stories of the many people who have visited, including the Texas Rangers who used the building as a headquarters in the 1940′s.

The heirs of the McGill brothers donated the building to be used as a home for the South Texas museum in 1975. As you pass through the double-copper doors in the Museum, you will find yourself immersed in the history of Alice and South Texas. Collections range from Civil War era weapons to antique dolls, saddles to butter churns and one hundred year old typewriters to arrowheads. The Museum houses an extensive photographic collection of early Alice and Jim Wells County as well as a library for historical research.

History

In 1973, a group of citizens was granted a charter for a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) institution by the State of Texas. The heirs of H. Frank McGill, Sr. donated the McGill Bros. ranch headquarters building to be the home of the South Texas Museum in 1975.

The 1994 Board of Directors of the South Texas Museum initiated a Restoration/Expansion Project. The first phase was a full restoration and renovation of the existing structure, completed late November of 1995.

The Texas Historical Commission designated the South Texas Museum building as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in August of 1994. The marker will be dedicated in spring of 1996.

Artifact Collections

McGill Bros. Building - South Texas ranch items from the late 1800s; office items and furniture from 1880s; mounted trophy animal heads, horns, and birds; photos of pioneer ranchers and men of mark; 1850 and 1908 saddles; fire arms collection (Civil War - early 1900s); unique collection of early photos, documents, and maps of the area.

Research Collections

Extensive photo, document, and newspaper file collections of: Jim Wells County, City of Alice, Alice Schools, Tex-Mex Railroad, early agribusiness and ranching, early oil & gas industry, WWI and WWII, and histories of early families. Archives also holds 185 Civil War books and other reference books. All original documents and photos can be copied for researchers. Contact the museum for full statement of use policies.

Programs

Exhibitions, educators guide, lectures; no fees charged for guided tours or lectures; available for programs outside of museum with appropriate time to prepare

Services
South Texas Museum Ornament

Order this one of a kind online at our website. We also carry the incredible William Adams School Ornament.

Gift Shop
Online Gift Shop
DISCLAIMER
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MUSEUM CONFERENCES

April 27 - April 29, 2025

Oregon Museum Association 2025 Conference

TBA

Independence, Oregon

Beginning in 2025, the OMA annual conference will be held in Spring rather than Fall

The conference this year is all about trying new things. We are hoping to organize the conference into the following four tracks: Collections Care, Leadership, Emergency Preparedness, and Tourism

Check our website for more details in early 2025

The OMA newsletter is emailed every month with updates on OMA events, museum news, other events, trainings, jobs, grants and more for the museum community in Oregon.

For more information, please email connect@oregonmuseums.org.

October 1 - October 4, 2025

Western Museums Association’s (WMA) 2025 Annual Meeting

TBA

Reno, Nevada

Save the Date for WMA 202

As we celebrate our 90th anniversary, join us to build relationships and soar higher than ever before. With the theme of ELEVATE, WMA 2025 will explore ways to lift up the experiences of cultural professionals and the communities they serve.

In Reno, Nevada, 4,400 feet above sea level, we will forward the progress of museums by looking to the future.

May 6 - May 9, 2025

2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) ANNUAL MEETING & MUSEUMEXPO

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles, California

AAM 2025 will focus on the theme, Museums & Trust.

Museums have long inspired high levels of public trust, surpassing news outlets, government organizations, researchers and scientists, corporations, and social media platforms. This consistent finding underscores our institutions’ unique position in society as stewards of knowledge, culture, science, and history—areas where credibility and reliability are paramount

In an era marked by mistrust and misinformation, museums have a rare ability to counterbalance the proliferation of false narratives and polarized perspectives. Using our trusted position, we can cultivate a more healthy, empathetic, and informed society.

But to do so, we must maintain our credibility proactively, embracing thoughtful, transparent, and collaborative practices that will defend against influences like bias, resource challenges, abuse of power, and social injustice

An Incredible MuseumExpo

AAM is again partnering this year with the Museum Store Association to host an incredible combined expo hall. Find the most innovative services, products, and solutions in the museum field. With 350 exhibitors, you are bound to find the right partner for your museum’s current challenges and opportunities.

May 5 - May 9, 2025

Museum Store Association FORWARD 2025 in LA

The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Los Angeles, California

Join MSA in LA

We’re excited about our next MSA FORWARD Conference & Expo in “The City of Angels” – Los Angeles, California in conjunction with the American Alliance of Museums

Join the Museum Store Association (MSA) and hundreds of nonprofit retail professionals for the 70th Annual MSA FORWARD Retail Conference & Expo, taking place May 5-9, 2025 at The Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, California

Once again, MSA FORWARD will be held in conjunction with the 2025 American Alliance of Museums (AAM) Annual Meeting & Expo

Learn best practices and new ideas for store merchandising, operations, marketing, and sale

Participate in dedicated networking events and create connections that will inspire new ideas

Meet with over 200 MSA vendors about your product needs

Hear from knowledgeable industry experts during session breakouts and keynote presentations

Network with AAM attendees and exhibitor

September 10 - September 13, 2025

2025 Am Assoc for State and Local History Annual Conference

TBD

Cincinnati, Ohio

The 2025 AASLH Annual Conference, in partnership with Ohio Local History Alliance, will take place as the history field makes the final preparations to kickoff off the 250th commemoration of the founding of the United States.

The 2025 conference theme, inspired by AASLH’s Making History at 250: The Field Guide for Semiquincentennial, is an opportunity to broadly explore one of the guide’s themes, The American Experiment. For many in the American colonies in 1776, independence from Britain represented a “leap into the dark” into an unknown future

We are excited for you to join us in Cincinnati as we encourage discussion about our democracy and civic institutions and how they can help strengthen understanding, inspire action, and reveal ways that all of us can participate in and shape the ongoing American experiment.

For more information, please call 615-320-3203 or email info@aaslh.org.

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