Last updated: 12/22/2011

The El Campo Museum of Natural History began as a storage site for Dr. E. A. Weinheimer to store his collection of trophies. Since the beginning in 1978 to the present, the El Campo Museum has become a major tourist attraction for those who travel to our area. Within the past twenty years, the Museum has changed its name, mission statement, vision, and location. What once began as a tourist stie inside the Chamber of Commerce has now become an ever-wondrous experience.

The glue that keeps us together and has helped us become successful in reaching our audience is the Board of Directors. The Board is known to be a "working Board" because they are the people who make sure that projects are done, fund-raisers are held, and the Museum's policies are enfoced and regulated. They make my job look very easy! I am their Secretary. However I am also the Museum's Administrator. My role is to oversee the operation of the Museum, to promote, carry out, and perform the duties of the mission statement, and to continue with the daily trials and tribulations of museum-life. My nickname is "jack of all trades."

Aside from the Board of Directors, we also have a "can-do" group of volunteers who assist me and the Board in projects. Without the volunteers, the Museum would have never gotten started! The average age within the volunteers is 70 years old. However, don't let their age fool you; this group can and has done it all! They assist in giving tours, making decorations for socials, making exhibit props, assist in office help, everything! Mostly all of these people are within the retirement age. However, they are the most talented group of people that I know. Their professional backgrounds are teachers, carpenters, artists, business professionals, homemakers, etc. They are coordinated by a Docent Chairman who is always a phone call away whenever the Board or I need help in a project.

The Museum has grown into a multi-media learning institution. With the inclusion of two computers (1996 & 1997), narrative overhead sound system, and lightboxes, the Museum is continuing to become an established institution for education and enjoyment. We have been compared to the Denver Museum of Natural History, the Smithsonian, and other metropolitan museums. People who visit us leave with astonishment because they would have never guessed that a small town (pop. 10500) would have such an interesting, and wonderful museum. I sometimes refer to us as "El Campo's little secret." I see a lot of repeat "Winter-Texans" who visit use annually whenever they are heading South or heading home. They see someting new each time they visit us.

The big headache with the Museum is that we are wall-bound. We are located inside the El Campo Civic Center, which is a multi-function building. Our back door leads into an area of the "Main Hall" which is the grand ballroom. Because we are wall-bound, we have no more space to add other permanent exhibits. That is why we chose the multi-media route. Someday, we hope to acquire our own building, but for now, our location will suit us fine. Actually, being in a Civic Center has one main advantage: exposure for all who attend functions out here. Another problem is the inclusion of internet access in my office. To convince my Board that this is an important tool to have has been trying and tiresome. I have a few supporters, but the headache is getting the "baby-boomers" to see to reason. I hope to reach the majority by the end of the year.

The Museum is currently working on two big projects for 1998. the first project is the addition of a third computer to enhance three exhibits: Rocky Mountain, Alaskan Borwn Bear, and Arctic. with the assistance of "Commission Arts", this project will be completed in the Fall of 1998. The second project is the July Birthday Party of the Museum. This year marks the Museum's 20th year in opeation, and to celebrate the Museum is hosting a birthday party and a pictorial exhibit of twenty years for guest to "walk down memory lane". In addition, our local newspaper " The El Campo Leader-News" is putting together a special "edition" about the history of the Museum. This pull-out section will include pictures, interviews from the Weinheimer family, interviews from the past Presidents, and articles featuring exhibits, moving, socials, etc. It promises to be a fun-filled event. After this we will work on our spectacular Christmas Exhibit, and start making plans for the 1999 fund-raiser.

TAM's Resource Sharing Project is an excellent idea for networking and museum-sharing. I think that size-challenged institutions and institutions starting out will benefit more in resource sharing. I feel that we are considered the "little brother" to the "big brother" large institutions. After all, they are the ones who have more people to aid in our assistance. The El Campo Museum has become involved in helping other museums of similarities in getting started, making improvements, and owrking together within a small town. We have also turned to other institutions for assistance and especially to the folks at TAM for their continued support in helping the Museum grow. I hope that others will be able to benefit from other museums as well as TAM.

In 1972, Dr. E. A. Weinheimer donated the animal trophies he had acquired on various Big Game Hunts to the City of El Campo. He included a building for housing the collection in his gift, which becme the home of the El Campo Chamber of Commerce. The animals were displayed in a room, mounted on the wall, or standing on the floor in no particular order. The Chamber became the caretakers of the collection, although the city retained ownership. In 1978, the Chamber of Commerce encouraged a group of volunteers to apply for the charter to become the El Campo Museum of Art, History and Natural Science. The museum board of directors adopted a mission statement and set the goal to develope the collection into a museum-quality presentation of the animals in replicas of their natural habitats and environments. Local volunteers, many of who were artists, research, planned and produced a visual habitat for animals grouped geographically, using landscape murals and replicas of natural settings. Exhibits being completed during this period were the African and Arctic Exhibits in 1978, and the Great Cats Jungle Exhibit in 1979. These exhibits, as well as the Waterfowl Exhibit of the mid-1980's, attracted visitors to the Museum and membership began to grow. The Museum became known locally for its elaborate display of Christmas decorations, and Santa Claus became a seasonal favorite for the young and old who came to visit. The Museum became established as a permanent cultural and educational resource in the area. In 1989, the City of El Campo opened a new Civic Center and the Museum agreed to move to its present location in the Center. Original murals of the African and Waterfowl Exhibits, as well as all of the trophy animals were also moved, and new dioramas were built. In 1991, a popular Texas Exhibit of animals native to South Texas was added. In 1996, the Museum was renovated, and amended its charter to be named the El Campo Museum of Natural History.

An Alaskan Brown Bear exhibit was added, as were interactive computers and informative light boxes to complement the exhibits.

These interactive additions helped the El Campo Museum to become a multi-media learning institution for the many visitors who travel to our area.

The El Campo Museum Society, which oversees the operation of the museum, is a non-profit organization funded by membership dues, donations, grants, bi-annual fundraiser, and a percentage of the City Hotel/Motel tax.

The El Camp Museum hosts some 5000 visitors annually, with 30% of them school children from a three county area. The Museum is supported by Volunteers who average more than 2000 hours of their time and talent annually.

and for that reason the Museum continues to draw visitors from near and far to enjoy this ever-wondrous experience.