Under the star at Bullock Texas State History Museum (Credit: Van Sutherland via Flickr CC)
The perfect way to beat the summer heat or enjoy a rainy day in Austin is to visit one of our city’s fine museums. And if you’re looking for an opportunity to brush up on your Texas history, look no further than Bullock Texas State History Museum, located just south of The University of Texas.
Having grown up in Texas and taken the obligatory two years of Texas history, going to the Bullock was a refresher course. The visit reminded me of all the crazy stories from the Lone Star State’s past that I’d forgotten, and introduced me to many I hadn’t heard before.
It was also fun to take my New Jersey-bred husband with me. He was able to trace the history of his newly adopted homeland from its prehistoric inhabitants, through the frontier years, and into modern times. I think he was at least mildly impressed by my ability to recall random characters from the fabric of history, like Erastus “Deaf” Smith.
If you haven’t been to Bullock Texas State History Museum yet, here are a few of the highlights waiting for you.
The Beautiful La Belle
La Belle at Bullock Texas State History Museum (Credit: Paul Hudson via Flickr CC)
One of the museum’s coolest artifacts is right on the ground floor: a partially-restored 17th century wooden ship called La Belle. The ship was part of the expedition of explorer René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de la Salle. It was wrecked in a storm and sank beneath the waves of Matagorda Bay in the Gulf of Mexico. There it lay undisturbed for three centuries.
In 1995, the ship was discovered and the process began to carefully excavate the ship. It was painstakingly reconstructed and put on display at the Bullock, where the hull and many artifacts from the voyage are available for viewing. There is also a multi-sensory film, “Shipwrecked,” which tells the saga of La Belle’s final days. Seeing the wreck in person is fascinating and made me appreciate so much more the willingness of brave explorers to take off for uncharted lands on such small vessels.
–Keep reading: “7 Reasons to See a Shipwreck in Austin”
Journey Through the Texas Years
Some of the hard-working mannequins at the Bullock (Credit: Sam Zavieh)
The museum is designed so that you can wind through the years over three floors. From early Native Americans through empressarios and the Texas Rangers, each section is carefully designed to give you a strong sense of time and place. For example, there is a prison-like design in the exhibit on Stephen F. Austin’s imprisonment by Mexican president Santa Ana from 1834-1835.
There is no shortage of mannequins dramatically depicting scenes from Texas’ past. If you take the time to slow down and learn, there is an incredible wealth of artifacts and stories to pore over.
Free Community Events
Music Under the Star (Credit: Gabriel Cristóver Pérez/KUTX)
The Bullock hosts regular events that allow everyone access to exhibits and educational enrichment. The first Sunday of each month is H-E-B Free First Sunday, when admission is free for everyone from 12-5 p.m. There is typically a theme that may include hands-on activities, refreshments, and maybe even live music.
Speaking of music, one of the best free summer concerts in Austin is Music Under the Star. This series is held on Friday nights in July from 6-9 p.m. Austinites bring chairs and gather under the Bullock’s iconic star to hear music from the area’s best musical artists. Food, soda, beer, and a signature cocktail by Tito’s are available for purchase.
Stay up to date on all events using the museum’s online calendar.
The Biggest Screen in Our Big State
The green lines are from the fiber optics on the walls of the Bullock Museum’s IMAX theater (Credit: Cameron Russell via Flickr CC)
The Bullock Museum has the largest screen in Texas. In fact, it’s the only IMAX with laser film experience in the state. The theater shows popular Hollywood films, documentaries, and the Summer Free Family Film Series from June until August. If you’re looking for a larger than life movie experience, this impressive screen is just one more reason to remember the Bullock.
Visiting Bullock Texas State History Museum
Bullock Texas State History Museum from the sky (Credit: Christopher Sherman/Over Austin)
The museum is open from 9-5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 12-5 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the museum is $13 for adults, $11 for seniors, military, and college students, and $9 for kids under 18. The museum is also a Blue Star Museum, meaning active military members receive free admission all summer long. Additional tickets are required to see movies in the Texas Spirit IMAX Theater.
Whether you’re a Texas native looking to see how much 7th grade knowledge stuck in your brain, or a transplant still trying to figure out who the city of Austin is named after, you’ll definitely want to check out Bullock Texas State History Museum.
1800 Congress Ave. – Website
@theAustinot wants to know:
What’s your favorite story from Texas history?
Nice work Susan.