The John Nance Garner Museum documents the remarkable life and career of Texas native son John Nance "Cactus Jack" Garner (1868-1967), one of the most powerful Vice Presidents in U. S. history and the second most powerful politician in the United States during the Great Depression of the 1930s. The Museum exhibits photographs, cartoons, art, historical documents, and memorabilia reflecting Garner's life and career.
Vice President John Nance Garner and his son, Tully, donated the Garner home to the city of Uvalde in 1952 as a memorial to his late wife, Ettie. Over the years, the home served as a city library, historical museum, and community meeting facility. In 1999, the City of Uvalde, donated the museum to Center for American History at the University of Texas at Austin. As part of the Center's Congressional History Collection, the museum's focus is on the life and historical significance of John and Ettie Garner.
The majority of the Garner collection is kept at the Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin except for items on permanent display at the museum.
Researchers are referred to the Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin, as the John Nance Garner Museum has no research facilities or archives on site. The bulk of the Garner collection is kept at the Austin facility except for items on permanent display at the museum.
The museum encourages all types of tours, especially school tours, and a tour guide is always available to assist with all tours. There is no fee for this service.
State University/ U.T. Board of Regents The John Nance Garner Museum is administered by the Center for American History, a special collections library, archive, and museum at the University of Texas at Austin.