The Witte Museum

Pictures with Santa and the Dinosaurs
2023-11-25 10:00 - 12:00 (America/Chicago) | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Combine the magic of Santa with the wonder of the Witte for holiday photos your family will cherish for a lifetime.
Santa will visit and take photos with children in the Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery on the following dates:

Saturday, November 25 from 10 a.m. – Noon
Saturday, December 2 from 10 a.m. – Noon
Saturday, December 9 from 3 – 5 p.m.
Saturday, December 16 from 10 a.m. – Noon

Your family’s visit with Santa is included with Museum Admission. Please bring your own camera to take photos.

Rock Art Tours: White Shaman Preserve
2023-09-02 12:30 - 14:00 | White Shaman Preserve, 42535 West US Highway 90, Comstock, TX, 78837, United States
Journey deep into the rugged Lower Pecos Canyonlands to experience the White Shaman mural, considered one of the most cosmologically complex narratives in the world, at the Witte Museum’s White Shaman Preserve.
Located near Seminole Canyon State Park, this 1.5-hour trek takes you through a landscape filled with Chihuahuan Desert plants and stunning views of the Pecos River where it converges with the Rio Grande. The White Shaman mural, painted thousands of years ago, illustrates the lifeway and belief systems of the now-gone hunter-gatherer society.
More about the White Shaman Preserve and the Witte.
Pricing:

Members: $15
Non-Members: $25

Tour Difficulty: (Strenuous) There is a 250-foot descent into a narrow brushy canyon and the trail is steep with loose rocks and uneven footing. At any time of the year, desert heat can be extreme.
Round-trip Distance: 1.5 miles
Duration: 1.5 hours
Vehicle Requirements: There are no vehicle requirements for this tour.
The Witte’s Mission to shape the future of Texas inspires us to provide weekly tours from early Fall to late Spring for the public to experience the majesty of the White Shaman Mural.
Reservations are required and spaces are limited. Participants must be ages 12 & up. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Fall Favorites Cooking Camp
2023-11-20 08:30 - 2023-11-21 15:30 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
~ SOLD OUT ~
Children aged 8-12 are invited to join the Witte Museum’s two-day cooking camp!
This culinary celebration involves chopping, dicing and baking fall favorite treats. Campers will learn about safety in the kitchen while creating a variety of delicious recipes that highlight the flavors of fall. What will your camper cook up?
IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Dates: Monday, November 20 – Tuesday, November 21
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. each day.
Ages: 8 – 12
Cost: $125 (member) / $150 (non-member)
Registration: is required

Questions about camp? Contact the Witte Education Team at Camp@WitteMuseum.org.

STEAM Sunday: Map Maker
2023-11-19 14:00 - 15:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Add to your Witte experience with hands-on explorations of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math at STEAM Sunday.
What is a landform, and how do we mark it on a map?
Inspired by the special exhibition Explore Your World, this hands-on workshop explores the challenges of cartography. You’ll learn about geography and geology as you create your own landscape and map.
Important Information:

Advanced registration required. Participation in this event requires Witte Museum admission (sold separately), plus STEAM Sunday ticket for each participant.
Purchase includes all supplies needed for interactive workshop and collectible button.
Non-participating family members are welcome (space permitting) and do not need to purchase a ticket.
Recommended for all ages over 5.
Program runs approximately 45-60 minutes.
STEAM Sunday ticket sales close one hour before the program begins.

Homeschool Day: Explore Your World
2023-11-14 09:30 - 12:30 | TX
What better way to spend a day than immersing your students in the Witte Museum? Join us for a fun day of learning at Homeschool Day!
Choose between two exciting programs:
Citizen Scientists • 9:30 a.m. & 11:30 a.m.
Do you enjoy exploring the world around you? Learn how your passion for nature can help scientist collect data. In this hands-on workshop, you will practice making observations and collecting data in nature through photography and uploading to a public repository.
*Suggested Grade Levels: 2-4

Tickets: Citizen Scientists at 9:30 a.m.
Tickets: Citizen Scientists at 11:30 a.m.

Map Makers • 10:30 a.m. & 12:30 p.m.
What is a landform and how do we mark it on a map? Inspired by the special exhibition, Explore Your World, this hands-on workshop explores the challenges of cartography. You’ll learn about geography and geology as you create your own landscape and map.
*Suggested Grade Levels: 3-5

Tickets: Map Makers at 10:30 a.m.
Tickets: Map Makers at 12:30 p.m.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:

Advanced registration required. Participation in this event requires Witte Museum admission (sold separately), plus Homeschool Day ticket for each participant.
Purchase includes all supplies needed for interactive workshop.
Recommended for grade levels: K – 5.

Bringing Shadows Into the Light: A Panel Discussion
2023-11-05 14:00 - 16:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Join photographer Al Rendón for a community event to discuss his book Mi Cultura—Bringing Shadows Into the Light: The Photography of Al Rendón, which celebrates his remarkable 50-year career. Rendón will be joined by notable individuals who have contributed to the publication and experienced his work for decades.
Panelists include:

Eduardo Díaz: Díaz is the Deputy Director of the National Museum of the American Latino and contributed by writing the introduction to the book.
Dr. Tomás Ybarra Frausto: A noted Chicano Studies scholar, Dr. Fausto wrote an essay in the publication titled “Bringing Shadow Into Light: The Photography of Al Rendón.”
Bruce Shackelford: Shackelford is the Texas History Curator at the Witte Museum. His essay in Mi Cultura is titled “Al Rendón and Charrería.”
Juan Tejeda: A Consultant at the Guadalupe Cultural Arts Center, Tejada’s contribution to the publication includes an essay titled “Al Rendón: Fotógrafo del Pueblo/Photographer of the People and a City.”

The discussion will be moderated by Witte Museum President & CEO Marise McDermott, who wrote the forward.
Cost: Free with Museum Admission. Reserve your admission online or become a Witte Museum Member and enjoy events like this all year!
Purchase your copy of the Mi Cultura—Bringing Shadows Into the Light: The Photography of Al Rendón book at the Bolner Family Museum Store, learn from the publication’s contributors and experience the retrospective exhibition of his 50-year career.
ABOUT THE ARTIST & AUTHOR
Al Rendón has been documenting his hometown, San Antonio, for over fifty years. He started as a teen, taking photos of rock bands, but he quickly transitioned to photos that captured San Antonio’s Mexican culture. He has photographed Conjunto and Tejano musicians, local artists, street food purveyors, Charreada competitors and people in their everyday lives.
His work with Conjunto and Tejano musicians led him to work with Selena. His photos of Selena were used as cover art for her 1992 CD Entre a Mi Mundo and various other photos of Selena have appeared on several magazines, including Newsweek and People; and her portrait is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian.
The exhibition Mi Cultura—Bringing Shadows Into the Light: The Photography of Al Rendón is presented by the Sally and Charlie Cheever Foundation and generously supported by Guillermo Nicolas and the WellMed Charitable Foundation. The book Mi Cultura—Bringing Shadows Into the Light: The Photography of Al Rendón is generously supported by Marsha Shields and the McCombs Foundation.

STEAM Sunday: Medicine & Molecules
2023-10-22 14:00 - 15:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Add to your Witte experience with hands-on explorations of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math at STEAM Sunday.
How does medicine work?
Inspired by the American Chemical Society’s National Chemistry Week, this family-friendly, hands-on workshop explores the chemistry of pharmacology. You’ll discover how different molecules affect the way a body absorbs medicine.
Important Information:

Additional fee and advance registration required for event.
Purchase includes all supplies needed for interactive workshop and collectible button.
Non-participating family members are welcome (space permitting) and do not need to purchase a ticket.
Recommended for all ages over 5.
Program runs approximately 45-60 minutes.
Participation in this event requires Witte Museum admission (sold separately), plus STEAM Sunday ticket for each participant.
STEAM Sunday ticket sales close one hour before the program begins.

Super Saturday: Can You Dig It?
2023-10-21 12:00 - 16:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
As part of International Archeology Day and Texas Archeology Month, the Witte invites you to explore the world of archeology at Super Saturday: Can You Dig It?
Archeologists are scientists who uncover and preserve materials or artifacts to understand cultures over time. During this Super Saturday, engage with real archeologists, dig for artifacts and learn how the People of the Pecos made paint thousands of years ago.
Take your experiences further and learn ways to observe and document the world around you in this fall’s exhibition, A State of Exploration.
ARTIFACT IDENTIFICATION
Have you ever wondered if you may have found a prehistoric artifact? Then join us for Can You Dig It? where Dr. Harry Shafer, Curator of Archeology at the Witte Museum, will be on hand to help identify your findings!
How do I prepare for identification?

Bring as much information (location found, etc.) on your discovery as possible.
Only items that can be carried into the museum will be considered.

Identifications are for educational purposes only. The Witte Museum does not provide authentications or appraisals for monetary (market) value or for legal purposes.
Identification will take place from 1 p.m. – 3 p.m.
Cost: This event is included with General Admission. Purchase your Museum Admission online or purchase a Witte Museum Membership and enjoy events like this all year!

Annular Solar Eclipse & Last Contact Party
2023-10-14 10:30 - 16:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Excited about the Annular Solar Eclipse? Want the fun to continue all day?
View the Annular Eclipse at the Witte Museum. The partial Annular Eclipse will begin around 10:23 a.m. in San Antonio with the peak of the “ring of fire” eclipse happening around 11:54 a.m. Visitors during this time will receive complimentary eclipse glasses with Museum Admission (while supplies last) for safe viewing from the museum campus, which is in the path of the eclipse. Announcements will be made and all guests will be invited to go outside and experience the eclipse maximum.
LAST CONTACT PARTY
Then, stick around and learn more about what you just witnessed at the Witte Museum’s Last Contact Party from 1 – 4 p.m.! Explore sky & space, create eclipse-inspired art and see real meteorites in the New Discoveries: Welcome to Earth exhibit. Learn what you can use to create your own eclipse viewer to prepare for the Total Eclipse in April!
WHAT IS LAST CONTACT?
Last Contact (also known as Fourth Contact) occurs when the moon no longer covers any part of the sun. Last Contact marks the end of an eclipse.
PREPARE FOR AN ECLIPSE
During an Annular Solar Eclipse, remember to wear eclipse glasses and to never look at the sun with the naked eye. Memorialize your annular eclipse experience with exclusive 2023 ‘Ring of Fire’ Annular Eclipse t-shirts and stickers, available at the Bolner Family Museum Store at the Witte Museum. Eclipse glasses are also available for sale in advance of the eclipse at the museum store.
Learn more about the eclipse at sanantonioeclipse.org.
Cost: This event is included with General Admission. Purchase your Museum Admission online or purchase a Witte Museum Membership and enjoy events like this all year!
Promotional support for the Annular Solar Eclipse & Last Contact Party at the Witte Museum is generously provided by KENS 5.

Saturday with a Scientist: Annular Eclipse
2023-10-14 10:30 - 14:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
View the annular eclipse with the KENS 5 Weather Team!
Join Bill Taylor, Weather Chief, and Paul Mireles, meteorologist, at the Witte Museum during the annular eclipse. Taylor and Mireles will be on-site to answer your questions about solar movement, what to expect during an eclipse and the importance of safety while viewing one.
Then, stick around and learn more about what you just witnessed at the Witte Museum’s Last Contact Party from 1 – 4 p.m.!
ABOUT THE ECLIPSE
The partial Annular Eclipse will begin around 10:23 a.m. in San Antonio with the peak of the “ring of fire” eclipse happening around 11:54 a.m. Visitors during this time will receive complimentary eclipse glasses with Museum Admission (while supplies last) for safe viewing from the museum campus, which is in the path of the eclipse. Announcements will be made and all guests will be invited to go outside and experience the eclipse maximum.
Learn more about the eclipse at SanAntonioEclipse.org.
Cost: This event is included with General Admission. Purchase your Museum Admission online or purchase a Witte Museum Membership and enjoy events like this all year!
Eclipse Outreach Programming is generously supported by the Simons Foundation. Promotional support is generously provided by KENS 5.

Annular Eclipse Experience at the White Shaman
2023-10-14 09:30 - 15:00 | White Shaman Preserve, 42535 West US Highway 90, Comstock, TX, 78837, United States
Experience the Annular Eclipse at the White Shaman Preserve!
This limited-availability event includes viewing of the eclipse and guided tours to two rock art sites: The Tinaja, a vital source of water for the People of the Pecos, and the famous White Shaman mural.
A boxed lunch, Witte Museum eclipse glasses and commemorative t-shirt are included.

IMPORTANT INFORMATION:
Reservations are required and spaces are limited. Participants must be ages 12 & up. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Questions? Contact the Witte Team at Reservations@WitteMuseum.org.
ABOUT THE WHITE SHAMAN:
Tour Difficulty: (Strenuous) There is a 250-foot descent into a narrow brushy canyon and the trail is steep with loose rocks and uneven footing. At any time of the year, desert heat can be extreme.
Round-trip Distance: 1.5 miles
To learn more about the Witte Museum’s White Shaman Preserve, visit WitteMuseum.org/white-shaman-preserve.

Saturday with a Scientist: Eclipses & Equinoxes
2023-09-23 12:00 - 14:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
What is an equinox, and how does it mark a change in seasons?
Learn from and engage with a real scientist! Dr. Chris Packham, professor of astrophysics at UTSA, will be at the Witte during the Fall Equinox to answer your questions about space, the movement of planets and the change in seasons.
Dr. Packham will also highlight how San Antonio is a part of the cross-roads for two upcoming major eclipses in October 2023 and April 2024.
Join the Witte Museum for Saturday with a Scientist: Eclipses & Equinoxes at the overlook on the Second Floor of the Susan Naylor Center, next to the New Discoveries: Welcome to Earth exhibit.
This event is included with General Admission. Purchase your Museum Admission online or purchase a Witte Museum Membership and enjoy events like this all year!

Al Rendón: Meet the Artist & Book Signing
2023-09-19 16:00 - 18:00 | Ewing Halsell Hall in the South Texas Heritage Center at the Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Well-known for his portraits of Selena, Rock & Roll concerts and Charreada competitors, Al Rendón has photographed Tejano culture in South Texas for decades. He has become one of the city’s most celebrated photographers with images appearing in various magazines, corporate offices and collected by the Smithsonian Institution.
In this Free Tuesday event, bring your friends and family to meet the artist and learn about his work—in his own words. Purchase your copy of the Mi Cultura—Bringing Shadows Into the Light: The Photography of Al Rendón book at the Bolner Family Museum Store, and engage with Rendón before experiencing the retrospective exhibition of his 50-year career.
Admission is available upon arrival, or reserve your Free Tuesday Admission online.
ABOUT THE ARTIST & AUTHOR
Al Rendón has been documenting his hometown, San Antonio, for over fifty years. He started as a teen, taking photos of rock bands, but he quickly transitioned to photos that captured San Antonio’s Mexican culture. He has photographed Conjunto and Tejano musicians, local artists, street food purveyors, Charreada competitors and people in their everyday lives.
His work with Conjunto and Tejano musicians led him to work with Selena. His photos of Selena were used as cover art for her 1992 CD Entre a Mi Mundo and various other photos of Selena have appeared on several magazines, including Newsweek and People; and her portrait is in the collection of the National Portrait Gallery at the Smithsonian.
The exhibition Mi Cultura—Bringing Shadows Into the Light: The Photography of Al Rendón is presented by the Cheever Family Foundation and generously supported by Guillermo Nicolas and the WellMed Charitable Foundation. The book Mi Cultura—Bringing Shadows Into the Light: The Photography of Al Rendón is generously supported by Marsha Shields and the McCombs Foundation.

STEAM Sunday: Observing Optics
2023-09-17 14:00 - 15:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Add to your Witte experience with hands-on explorations of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math at STEAM Sunday.
How does light behave?
Spark family fun at this hands-on workshop exploring the interaction of light and matter. Discover the physics of light and illuminate what happens when light hits different objects. You’ll then use your new knowledge to create your own solar cooker.
Important Information:

Additional fee and advance registration required for event.
Purchase includes all supplies needed for interactive workshop and collectible button.
Non-participating family members are welcome (space permitting) and do not need to purchase a ticket.
Recommended for all ages over 5.
Program runs approximately 45-60 minutes.
Participation in this event requires Witte Museum admission (sold separately), plus STEAM Sunday ticket for each participant.
STEAM Sunday ticket sales close one hour before the program begins.

Rock Art Tours: Meyers Spring Ranch
2023-09-02 10:00 - 16:00 | Dryden, TX, Intersection of Hwy 90 and Hwy 349, Dryden, TX, United States
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, Meyers Spring is considered one of the “must see” rock art sites in Texas. The Spring serves as a major source of water in the dry West Texas climate and has been at the center of human activity for thousands of years.
The stunning rock art found here includes paintings in the Pecos River style left by ancient people. On top of those older paintings, Indigenous artists recorded images of European contact. And still later, Seminole Scouts and local ranchers left their marks.
This site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1972 and today is privately owned. The Witte Museum thanks the landowners for their stewardship of this unique cultural resource and for graciously providing access.
Located near Dryden, Texas, the Meyers Spring site features a 100 ft. long prehistoric and historic rock art panel near the spring and the site of historic Camp Meyers, a western outpost of the Black Seminole Scouts assigned to Fort Clark in Brackettville during the late 1800s.
More about the White Shaman Preserve and Rock Art Tours.
Pricing:

Members: $35
Non-members: $50

Tour Difficulty: (Easy) The site is 9 miles by dirt road followed by a short walk on defined trails of loose rock and uneven terrain. It’s an easy walk for those accustomed to the West Texas environment.
Round-trip Distance: ¾ of a mile hike with 2 stops.
Duration: 6 hours
Vehicle Requirements: The 9-mile dirt ranch road does not require 4WD, although a high-clearance vehicle is recommended.
Reservations are required and spaces are limited. Participants must be ages 12 & up. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Cocktails & Culture: Whiskey in the Wilderness
2023-08-30 19:00 - 21:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Explore the wonders of nature!
Your adventure begins with a meet-and-greet of Zoomagination’s featured residents in the Zachry Family Acequia Garden at the Witte Museum. Enjoy a 30-minute Q&A session to engage with and learn more about the animals.
Capture the view from your shelter and bear the moment as you enjoy complimentary cocktails and local brewed beverages generously provided by our community partners.
Alamo City Pit Bull Rescue and their fur-residents will be onsite and available for adoption.
Beer and cocktails provided by Dripping Springs Distilling, Freetail Brewing Co., Devils River Whiskey, Maverick Whiskey, Rebecca Creek Distillery and Silver Star Whiskey.
Feed your hunger with culinary dishes for purchase from Cakes by Felicia and Mi Taquito.
Entertainment provided by Resident DJ, Alyson Alonzo.
Tickets: $30 per person (member) / $35 per person (non-member)
Important details:

This adventure is for guests 21 and older
All ticket purchases are non-refundable
Event will occur rain or shine

Thank you to our event partners!

STEAM Sunday: T. Rex and Fam
2023-08-20 14:00 - 15:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Add to your Witte experience with hands-on explorations of Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, and Math at STEAM Sunday.
What are theropod dinosaurs, and what makes them unique?
Inspired by the special exhibition Tyrannosaurs: Meet the Family, this hands-on workshop explores the features of popular predators. You’ll identify how the feet, feathers, and teeth of different dinosaurs helped them to survive in their environments.
Important Information:

Additional fee and advance registration required for event.
Purchase includes all supplies needed for interactive workshop and collectible button.
Non-participating family members are welcome (space permitting) and do not need to purchase a ticket.
Recommended for all ages over 5.
Program runs approximately 45-60 minutes.
Participation in this event requires Witte Museum admission (sold separately), plus STEAM Sunday ticket for each participant.
STEAM Sunday ticket sales close one hour before the program begins.

Origin Stories: Tales from the Witte's San José Collection
2023-08-06 15:00 - 17:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
In this guest presentation, Susan Toomey Frost, author of Colors on Clay: The San José Tile Workshops of San Antonio, shares her knowledge of the prized pieces found in the San José Tiles: The Art & Artist special exhibition at the Witte Museum.

Come experience the vibrant colors and movement of the tiles, as well as the history behind the workshops and the artists. This community event will allow you to learn the stories of individual pieces and the broader narrative of the collection as a whole. Following the lecture’s conclusion, explore the exhibition and engage with author Susan Toomey Frost.
After Susan Toomey Frost’s presentation, she will be available to sign copies of her book, Colors on Clay: The San José Tile Workshops of San Antonio. Guests are also invited to explore the San José Tiles: The Art & Artist special exhibition.

Cost: Free with Museum Admission. Purchase Museum Admission online here or at the Walker Admissions Desk upon arrival.
ABOUT THE SPEAKER:
Susan Toomey Frost is the leading authority on San José decorative art tiles and pottery produced by workshops in San Antonio and Mexico. She has taught English and linguistics at universities in Mexico and Texas. An avid collector, she has written articles, given lectures, and curated exhibitions about the pieces. She has also graciously donated all the pieces on display in the San José Tiles: The Art & Artist special exhibition.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:

3 – 4 p.m.: Susan Toomey Frost’s presentation
4 – 5 p.m.: San José Tiles gallery exploration and Colors on Clay book signing

Colors on Clay: The San José Tile Workshops of San Antonio is currently available for purchase in the Bolner Family Museum Store.
San Jose Tiles: The Art & Artist is generously supported by the MATERIAL Bespoke Stone + Tile, James Lifshutz and Susan Toomey Frost.
