Day 11: Thursday, April 24
The Witte Museum
Today, I took the kids up to a museum in San Antonio. There is a section called the South Texas Heritage Center where we spent a large portion of our time. Here's an excerpt from the brochure:
As you pass through the immersive galleries, encounter historical personas sharing their stories. hear accounts of tejano freighters, chili queens, cowboys, vaqueros, Texas Indians, Spanish settlers, gas industry leaders and the children who grew up on the land.
The Witte Museum is able to tell these important stories because of the vast collection of artifacts- cherished links to out interwoven heritage. Through saddles, spurs, branding irons, basketry, historical clothing, land grants, art, firearms, and many more, the authentic stories of the men, women, and children of south Texas come to life.
The outside of the museum is beautiful. Situated among these great shade trees.
We were able to come and go from the Museum, so when it got to be close to lunch time, we walked across the street to this neat little Mexican restaurant and had a fabulous lunch. Natalie was adventurous and tried something vegetarian with poblano sauce, (peppers?) and I had chicken enchiladas while Adam stayed with his favorite, (beef tacos). I had my first taste of Mexican coke in a glass bottle (recommended by my friend Shannon Miller). It was very good! Plus, we tried sopallias for dessert.
The restaurant was covered in delicious smelling jasmine blooms. Can you see them in the background?
This is the back of the museum, covered with large window panes. I think across the river is the zoo or the park.
This is inside the Heritage Center.
The Robert J. and Helen C. Kleberg South Texas Heritage Center at the Witte Museum is a place where the stories of 1850s South Texas come to life through interactive exhibits, art, artifacts and live performances. Nestled along the beautiful San Antonio River, the center is the permanent home of the Witte Museum’s South Texas collections.
THE PEOPLE
Who are we? We are cowboys, settlers, chili queens, ranchers and oil men. And merchants, Comanches, soldiers, farmers and outlaws. All had a hand in shaping who we are today.
THE ARTIFACTS
More than mere objects, saddles and spurs, baskets and clothes, branding irons and guns, are tied to the people and to the land and are symbols of shared stories.
Firearms!
Adam was really interested in these badges.
Another view from outside the Museum. Natalie is looking for the ducks and mallards along the river.
One of the buildings in the backyard had a log cabin. Inside, it had various construction methods of building log cabins. Adam is trying his luck at building a cabin. He says, "Look! The original Lincoln Logs!"
In another section called the HEB Body Adventure, which was closed until later this month, they did have a climbing wall. Adam tried it out and made it to the top twice to ring the bell. No one else was around as most of the school children had left for the day. He had it to himself.
We also viewed displays of native Texas plants and animals, which was very interesting.
Visit Texas Wild to see how an animal's appearance and behavior are related to where it lives. How many animals have camouflage (colors that blend with their surroundings)? Discover the adaptations that allow predators (hunters) to find their food. This exhibit also includes Animals Alive! an area filled with live animals, including bees, spiders, and snakes.
In a traveling exhibit, they had "Alien Worlds and Androids."
Here's more about this:
Blast off to a world where science fiction meets science fact. Time Warner Cable's Connect a Million Minds presents Alien Worlds and Androids, an exhibition thatinvites you to explore the cutting-edge science taking place right now and brings you face to face with the fantastic worlds depicted in your favorite science fiction films and books. How close are we to discovering new alien worlds and alien life? What are the differences between androids and robots? What inspires scientists, writers and filmmakers? What do we hope CURIOSITY will find on Mars? Let’s find out! Join us on an interactive expedition to Alien Worlds and Androids.
Explore nine unique areas of the exhibition:
Are We Alone?, Looking for Life in Space, Alien Life on Earth, Artificial Intelligence and Robots, Robot Space Explorers, Explore the Solar System, The Robotization of Planet Earth, I-Cyborg, and The Human Microbiome.
Anyway, we spent about 4-5 hours there and really enjoyed ourselves. Definitely worth our time.
Day 12: Friday: April 25th
Today,we decided to investigate the Missions near us.
Early missions were unwalled communities built of wood or adobe. Later, as tensions between northern tribes and mission residents grew, these structures were encircled by stone walls. Directed by skilled craftsmen recruited from New Spain, the mission Indians built their communities. Artisans preserved the basic Spanish model, modified as frontier conditions dictated.
Most famous, is The Alamo. Mission San Antonio de Valero as it is correctly named was founded in 1718. It was the first mission on the San Antonio River.
Mission of Nuestra Senora de la Purisima Concepcion was transferred from East Texas in 1731. The church essentially looks the same as it did in the mid-1700s as the mission's center of religious activity. Colorful geometric designs once covered its surface have long faded.
Mission Concepcion
Missionaries worked to replace the traditional Indian rituals with religious festivals teaching Christian beliefs. Carvings of the saints and objects of adoration were popular images of Catholicism among the Indians.
Some interior paintings remain. Some are religious symbols, while others are decorative, imitating architectural elements.
Beautiful interiors
Mission San Jose
Our next stop. In 1720 Fray Antonio Margil de Jesus founded the best known of the Texas missions, San Jose y San Miguel de Aguayo. It was the model mission organization and a major social center. Visitors praised its unique church architecture and the rich fields and pastures.
Do you see the Moorish influences on the Spanish?
The size of the complex testifies to its reputation as the "Queen of the Missions." Its village was central to a successful mission, and the layout of the mission compound shows how important the community's life was. Massive stone walls were for defense. The mission residents learned to use firearms to fend off the Comanche and Apache raids.
Inside the church. Lovely.
After lunch, we had a short siesta while Nana took Adam to play at the pool. For super we took the advise of the locals here at the RV park and went to Nichas. When we arrived, there was a long, long line of folks waiting to get in. We ended up ordering take out. I'm glad we did. The meal was ready in no time at all and we were able to take it back to the RV and eat outside on the picnic table.
