Witte Watercolors: Painting with Paula
2024-11-13 18:00 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
This program has sold out! Sign up here to learn about upcoming museum programs like this one.
Ready for an evening of creativity, conversation, and a touch of adventure? Explore science through art at the Witte Museum’s Painting with Paula!
Capture the beauty and fascination of one of nature’s most misunderstood creatures—spiders! Using watercolors, create your own masterpiece inspired by Paula the Texas Brown Tarantula, one of the Witte’s animal ambassadors. Enjoy snacks and drinks while learning fascinating spider facts from Witte educators.
Plus, take a guided tour of Spiders—From Fear to Fascination to spark your creativity and learn more about these incredible animals.
What’s included:

Meet & greet with a live tarantula!
All the watercolor supplies to create your masterpiece
Snacks and wine
A private, guided tour of Spiders—From Fear to Fascination

Cost:
$35 per person (non-members)
$30 per person (members)
21+ only — perfect for a fun night out with friends or a unique date idea. Get your tickets today and capture the beauty of nature’s most successful terrestrial predators.

Saturday with a Scientist: Inspired by Spiders
2024-11-16 11:00 - 13:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Have you ever wondered why people are afraid of spiders?
Join us at the Witte Museum to learn from Bria Marty, biologist and spider expert. Inspired by her lifelong love of spiders, Bria studied how people think about spiders for her graduate work at Texas State University.
Come out for Saturday with a Scientist to meet Bria and ask all your questions about spiders. Learn about spider anatomy, how to identify spiders using your phone and pick up your own Spider Friends Guide. Bria loves doing spider scavenger hunts, so grab your friends and gear up for fun!
Saturday with a Scientist: Inspired by Spiders takes place in the special exhibition, Spiders: From Fear to Fascination.
Purchase your Museum Admission and Spiders tickets online here or purchase a Witte Membership and enjoy events like this all year!

Fall Favorites Cooking Camp
2024-11-25 08:30 - 2024-11-26 15:30 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
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 25 – Tuesday, November 26
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. each day.
Ages: 8 – 12
Cost: $125 (member) / $150 (non-member)
Registration: is required

Registration will open for Witte members on October 28 and to the general public on November 1. Want early access? Become a Witte Member and enjoy Museum perks all year!
Questions about camp? Contact the Witte Education Team at Camp@WitteMuseum.org.

Magical Memories with Santa and the Dinosaurs
2024-11-30 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-12-07 10:00 - 12:00, 2024-12-14 14:00 - 16:00, 2024-12-21 10:00 - 12:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Create Magical Holiday Memories with Santa at the Witte!
This holiday season, bring your family to the Witte Museum for an unforgettable photo experience! Capture the wonder of Santa’s visit in the enchanting Naylor Family Dinosaur Gallery — where the magic of the season meets the thrill of prehistoric adventure.
Santa’s Special Photo Sessions:

Saturday, November 30 from 10 a.m. – Noon
Saturday, December 7 from 10 a.m. – Noon
Saturday, December 14 from 2 – 4 p.m.
Saturday, December 21 from 10 a.m. – Noon

Your family’s visit with Santa is included with Museum Admission, so don’t miss the chance to snap the perfect holiday photo in this one-of-a-kind setting. Be sure to bring your own camera to capture memories that will last a lifetime!

Conference on Texas
2024-12-05 - 2024-12-06 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Ode to Juneteenth: Slavery in Texas
December 5 & 6, 2024
The Witte Museum
A Two-Day Museum-Wide Conference, co-presented in partnership with

including

Steering Committee chaired by Aaronetta Pierce will curate panel discussions featuring scholars from around the United States focused on slavery in Texas, including Dr. Daina Ramey Berry.
Anticipated attendance from throughout Texas and beyond.
More than 500 attendees expected.
100 scholarships for college students, high school students, and educators.
Keynote speaker Annette Gordon-Reed.

The 2024 Conference on Texas at the Witte Museum will reveal the foundational role of chattel slavery in the formation and growth of Texas. The conference will center on the lives of the enslaved people, especially as mothers, fathers, sisters, and brothers. Every facet of the expanding Texas economy was impacted by slavery and enslaved labor. Enslaved people not only labored on cotton and sugar plantations, they also worked as artisans such as blacksmiths, seamstresses, and as enslaved cowboys.
In 1834, there were approximately 5,000 enslaved people in Mexican Texas. During the Republic of Texas, slavery increased so that by 1845, there were at least 30,000 enslaved women, men, and children in the new state of Texas. When Texas voted to join the Confederacy in 1861, the enslaved population was 182,566 people, the fastest growing demographic in Texas. The economy of Texas was so dependent upon slavery that not until June 19, 1865, now celebrated as Juneteenth, were enslaved people freed from bondage in Texas, two years after Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
Through new scholarship, the Conference will broaden the understanding of the ongoing legacies from slavery which continue to impact African Americans in Texas.
Learn more about this year’s conference here.

Rock Art Tours: Bonfire Shelter & Eagle Cave
2024-12-06 09:30 - 16:00 | Langtry, TX, Langtry, 78871, United States
Join the Witte Museum for a hiking tour to the Bonfire Shelter and Eagle Cave!

Located near Langtry, Bonfire Shelter is a nationally significant site in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands that preserves evidence of what may be the oldest and southernmost “bison jump” in North America.
Eagle Cave, a large occupational site, is found in the same canyon.
More about the White Shaman Preserve and Rock Art Tours.
Tour Difficulty: (Strenuous) The hike is into a very steep and rough canyon. Stamina, agility and good balance are a must and climbing (knees to chest) over large boulders is required. This tour involves a 100-ft. descent into a canyon with no trail. Deep, loose rocks make walking difficult. You will be in a remote location where response to serious injuries and medical emergencies will be difficult and lengthy.
Pricing:

Members: $35
Non-members: $50

Round-trip Distance: 1.75-mile hike.
Duration: 6.5 hours
Vehicle Requirements: There are no vehicle requirements for this tour.
Reservations are required and spaces are limited. Participants must be ages 12 & up. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

Family Day: Black Cowboys
2024-12-07 11:00 - 14:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Ever wonder how cowboys lived, worked and thrived on the open trail?
Head to Black Cowboys Family Day at the Witte Museum for a unique chance to explore the daily life and remarkable skills of Black cowboys in Texas.
Take part in 20-minute tours led by Ron Davis, Witte Curator of American History, who will share captivating stories of going up the trail. Enjoy live demonstrations of Chuck Box Cuisine and discover how cowboys prepared and stored food while on the move. Try your hand at roping cattle, design your own bandana and dive into history by examining the variety of skills—from cooking to dentistry—that cowboys mastered to wrangle life on the trails and ranches.
It’s a day of discovery, adventure and hands-on fun as you connect with the untold stories of the Black cowboys who shaped Texas history.
Curator-led exhibition tours at 11 a.m., noon and 1 p.m.
Chuckbox Cuisine demonstrations at 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.
Cost: Participation in this Family Day is free with Witte Museum Admission. Book your tickets online and save time!

17th Annual La Tamalada
2024-12-14 10:30 - 14:30 | Memorial Auditorium at the Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
This event is sold out. Thank you for your interest!
Join your Witte family for the 17th Annual La Tamalada as we learn a little tamale history, which dates back thousands of years.
Spend your morning getting your hands in masa and making tamales, followed by a box lunch. While the tamales cook, enjoy a demonstration on how to make salsa and explore Spiders: From Fear to Fascination. Communal learning of how to make tamales has been key to keeping this skill alive, so join us as we continue to pass along this tradition.
Each participant will make and take home a dozen tamales and the skills to host their own Tamalada.
The 17th Annual La Tamalada is generously supported by H-E-B and Bolner’s Fiesta Products.

Saturday with a Scientist: Inspired by Spiders
2024-12-21 11:00 - 13:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Have you ever wondered why people are afraid of spiders?
Bria is back at the Witte! Biologist and spider expert Bria Marty returns to the museum to share even more fascinating facts about arachnids. Inspired by her lifelong love of spiders, Bria studied how people think about spiders for her graduate work at Texas State University.
Come out for another Saturday with a Scientist to meet Bria and ask all your questions about spiders. Learn about spider anatomy, how to identify spiders using your phone and pick up your own Spider Friends Guide. Bria loves doing spider scavenger hunts, so grab your friends and gear up for fun!
Saturday with a Scientist: Inspired by Spiders takes place in the special exhibition, Spiders: From Fear to Fascination.
Purchase your Museum Admission and Spiders tickets online here or purchase a Witte Membership and enjoy events like this all year!

Winter at the Witte Camp
2024-12-30 08:30 - 2025-01-03 15:30 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
~This camp is sold out!~
How are dinosaurs discovered? Where did the earliest people of Texas live? Explore the wonders of archeology, paleontology and science while immersed in natural history. Join us to uncover the layers of earth and rock that mark Texas and join curators and educators to uncover the wonders of the Witte.
IMPORTANT DETAILS:

Dates: Monday, December 30, 2024 – Friday, January 3, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. each day.
Ages: 6 – 12
Cost: $325 (member) / $350 (non-member)
Registration: is required

Become a Witte Member and enjoy Museum perks all year!
Questions about camp? Contact the Witte Education Team at Camp@WitteMuseum.org.

Curatorial Walk & Talk: Mary Virginia Carson
2025-01-11 10:30 - 11:30 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Join Marise McDermott, Witte President Emeritus, author of the book, Mary Virginia Carson: Pioneer Artist Capturing Rock Art with Watercolors, and curator of the accompanying exhibition, as she leads an exclusive tour of the exhibition alongside Dr. Harry Shafer, Witte Curator of Archeology.
Discover the captivating story of Mary Virginia Carson, an artist, architect and engineer, who traversed the hot, rugged terrain of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands in the summer of 1931 to document and capture in watercolors the magnificent rock art murals that artists painted thousands of years earlier.
Curator McDermott will reveal fascinating new findings about Carson that were not included in the book or the exhibition, while Dr. Shafer will offer scholarly interpretations of the rock art and insights into the environment of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands as they were thousands of years ago.
This Curatorial Walk and Talk will be in Mary Virginia Carson: Pioneer Artist Capturing Rock Art with Watercolors, in the Changing Exhibition Gallery on the 2nd floor of the Susan Naylor Center.
This event is included with General Admission. Purchase your Museum Admission online here or purchase a Witte Membership and enjoy events like this all year!

Witte Watercolors: Cowboys on Canvas
2025-01-16 18:00 - 20:30 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Ready for an evening of creativity, conversation and a touch of adventure? Explore history through art at the Witte Museum’s Cowboys on Canvas!
Did you know that one in four cowboys who went up the trails was Black? Discover their enduring legacy through firsthand accounts and artifacts, then create your own watercolor study inspired by firsthand accounts in the Witte exhibition, Black Cowboys: An American Story.
Join the Witte team and San Antonio-based artist Chantia “Tia” Bailey, whose work focuses on social realism, capturing the beauty, strength and complexity of Black communities. Tia’s artistry invites connection through storytelling, and her expertise will guide you as you create paintings depicting the people and historical artifacts from the Witte’s exhibition.
What’s included:

A hands-on experience with educational artifacts from the American West
All the supplies you need to create your masterpiece and the artistic guidance of Tia Bailey
An assortment of snacks and wine to fuel your creativity
A private, guided tour of Black Cowboys: An American Story with exhibition co-curator Ron Davis, Witte Curator of American History

Cost:
$35 per person (non-members)
$30 per person (members)
21+ only — perfect for a fun night out with friends or a unique date idea. Get your tickets today and capture the untold stories of cowboy life.

Saturday with a Scientist: Recording Rock Art
2025-01-18 11:00 - 13:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Have you ever wondered how scientists are able to preserve 4,000-year-old rock art?
Join David Keim, a Preservation Archaeologist with Shumla Archaeological Research & Education Center, to learn more about rock art of the Lower Pecos Canyonlands. These ancient murals are among the most remarkable narratives of the ancient world, offering a glimpse into the lives and beliefs of the people who created them thousands of years ago. Discover how this rock art is meticulously recorded and studied, and what preserving it means for the future. Create your own rock art-inspired sketches and learn how scientific data can be collected from your creation.
Head to the Witte Museum for Saturday with a Scientist: Recording Rock Art in the Nancy Smith Hurd Rock Art Lab.
Continue your journey into the world of rock art by visiting Mary Virginia Carson: Pioneer Artist Capturing Rock Art with Watercolors to see how artistry and observation connect us with stories from thousands of years ago.
This event is included with General Admission. Purchase your Museum Admission online here or become a Witte Member to enjoy events like this all year!

Rock Art Tours: White Shaman Preserve
2025-01-18 12:30 - 14:30 | 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 2-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: $35
Non-Members: $40

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: 2 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.

Saturday with a Scientist: Studying Silk
2025-01-25 11:00 - 13:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Have you ever wondered where wild silk comes from?
Join Dr. Richard Peigler, an entomologist and biology professor at the University of the Incarnate Word, along with his students, for Saturday with a Scientist: Studying Silk. Dr. Peigler specializes in wild silkmoths and will guide you through the fascinating world of natural fibers.
Get an up-close look at specimens through a microscope, feel the texture of wild silk and discover the incredible variety of fibers found in the natural world. Learn how wild silkmoths contribute to the production of silk and explore the science behind these unique materials.
Head to the Witte Museum for Saturday with a Scientist: Studying Silk in the Valero Great Hall.
This event is included with General Admission. Purchase your Museum Admission online here or become a Witte Member to enjoy events like this all year!

Rock Art Tours: Bonfire Shelter & Eagle Cave Tour
2025-02-08 09:30 - 16:00 | Langtry, TX, Langtry, 78871, United States
Join the Witte Museum for a hiking tour of Bonfire Shelter and Eagle Cave!
Located near Langtry, Bonfire Shelter is a nationally significant site in the Lower Pecos Canyonlands that preserves evidence of what may be the oldest and southernmost “bison jump” in North America. Eagle Cave, a large occupational site, is found in the same canyon.
More about the White Shaman Preserve and Rock Art Tours.
Tour Difficulty: (Strenuous) The hike is into a very steep and rough canyon. Stamina, agility and good balance are a must and climbing (knees to chest) over large boulders is required. This tour involves a 100 ft. descent into a canyon with no trail. Deep loose rocks make walking difficult. You will be in a remote location where response to serious injuries and medical emergencies will be difficult and lengthy.
Pricing:

Members: $70
Non-members: $80

Round-trip Distance: 2-mile hike.
Duration: 6.5 hours
Vehicle Requirements: There are no vehicle requirements for this tour.
Reservations are required and spaces are limited. Participants must be ages 12 & up. All minors must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian.

4th Annual Engineer It!
2025-02-15 12:00 - 16:00 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Celebrate National Engineering Week at the Witte Museum!
Join us for the 4th Annual Engineer It!—a hands-on celebration of creativity and problem-solving. Bring your friends and family to explore how engineers design solutions to real-world challenges. Dive into interactive stations where you’ll tackle fun challenges, practice the engineering design process and discover the many ways engineering shapes the world around us.
Meet professional engineers who will answer your questions, share their experiences and inspire you to think like a problem-solver. It’s a creative adventure—what will you build?
Come check out activities from our community partners:

CPS Energy
Environmental Water Resources Institute
Girl with Grit
National Association of Women in Construction – San Antonio Chapter
Palo Alto College STEM Center
South Texas Institute of Transportation Engineers
Southwest Research Institute
The Boeing Company
UTSA Physics and Astronomy
UTSA Women in STEM
Youth Code Jam

This event is included with General Admission. Purchase your Museum Admission online here or become a Witte Member to enjoy events like this all year!

29th Annual Rock Art Rendezvous
2025-02-21 - 2025-02-23 | White Shaman Preserve, 42535 West US Highway 90, Comstock, TX, 78837, United States
~*Thank you for your interest, this event is sold out! *~
Journey deep into the Lower Pecos Canyonlands for the Witte’s 29th annual Rock Art Rendezvous. Enjoy a weekend of exploration, camping, stargazing and togetherness at the White Shaman Preserve and other area rock art sites.
This year, experience the region’s ancient and awe-inspiring murals through the eyes of Mary Virginia Carson, the artist who captured some of these powerful narratives during the Witte’s 1931 expeditions. Retrace Carson’s steps as you explore the artistry and significance of Lower Pecos rock art murals, guided by expert-led tours that connect you to the stories painted onto these canyon walls thousands of years ago.
Non-members: $200
Members: $175
Tickets include:

Primitive camping spot at the White Shaman Preserve – bring a tent or trailer (26′ max)
Guided tours of breathtaking rock art sites including White Shaman, Tinaja Canyon, Fate Bell Shelter, Presa Canyon, Seminole Canyon, Black Cave, Bonfire Shelter & Eagle Cave, Painted Shelter and Meyers Spring
Saturday evening BBQ dinner, raffle and musical performance by Carbonlily with her timeless vocals and unique renditions of songs we all know and love
Curator Conversations with Dr. Harry Shafer, Curator of Archeology and Dr. Thomas Adams, Chief Curator and VP of Research
Presentation on the life and work Mary Virginia Carson by Marise McDermott, Witte President Emeritus
Cowboy coffee and hot oatmeal breakfast on Saturday and Sunday mornings

Location: The Rock Art Rendezvous takes place at the Witte Museum’s White Shaman Preserve, 2 miles west of Seminole Canyon State Park, approximately 45 minutes west of Del Rio. Gates open at 11 a.m. on Friday, February 21, 2025. All visitors are to depart no later than 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2025.
For more details, including accommodations, tours, health & safety and cancellations, please click here.

Riverside Watercolor Wonders
2025-03-08 10:00 - 13:00 | Texas Wild Garden at the Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Tap into your creativity with an outdoor watercolor painting activity on the Witte Museum’s beautiful campus along the banks of the San Antonio River. Let the natural world inspire you as you observe its plants, animals and unique details. For more ideas, visit the live animals in Staying Alive or explore Mary Virginia Carson’s stunning watercolors.
Materials are provided for day-of use, and this event is included with General Admission. Become a Member and enjoy programs like this all year long!

Spring Break Camp: Witte Unlocked
2025-03-10 08:30 - 2025-03-14 15:30 | Witte Museum, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
Children aged 6-12 are invited to join the Witte Museum’s week-long spring break camp.
Want to go on an adventure at the Witte? Go behind the scenes to discover the animals of our state in Texas Wild. Bring your lab coat and goggles for a day of immersive science in the H-E-B Science Treehouse. Become a historian for a day and step back in time and explore what life was once like in Texas. And finally, explore the field of paleontology and discover more about the dinosaurs that roamed Texas. Every day is a new adventure at Witte Camp!
DETAILS:

Dates: March 10 – 14, 2025
Time: 8:30 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Monday-Friday
Ages: 6 – 12
Cost: $325 (member) / $350 (non-member)
Registration: is required

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

Riverside Watercolor Wonders
2025-03-11 15:00 - 18:00 | Zachry Family Acequia Garden, 3801 Broadway, San Antonio, TX, 78209, United States
