John Nance Garner Museum
Resources
ExhibitsLong Term – The John Nance Garner Museum exhibits photographs, original letters, political cartoons, art, furniture, and personal memorabilia relating to important events in the life and times of Mr. Garner. High spots in the exhibit include the gown and tuxedo worn by Mrs. Garner and Vice President Garner at the 1933 Inaugural banquet; a winning poker hand that President Harry Truman presented to the Vice President on his 95th birthday; and Garner’s hunting and fishing gear, including his fishing rod, straw hat, hunting boots, and wooden canoe.
Current – Rare ranching artifacts and documents that depict cattle ranching from early Spanish Colonial Texas to the twentieth century are currently on display at the John Nance Garner Museum. The exhibit, titled “Lone Star Treasures: Two Hundred Years of Ranching in Texas,” includes items rarely seen outside of the Center’s archives at The University of Texas at Austin.
Visitors to the exhibit will view rare documents such as the “History of Cattleraising in San Antonio” (1762, Bexar Archives) with sketches of the early cattle brands. The exhibit also contains several saddles from the 1800s, the XIT horn chair and footstool ca 1890, as well as other ranching artifacts from the James Frank Dobie Collection.
Elegant and regal, this 1800s Charro saddle has a wooden saddle tree covered with rawhide, silver metal repoussé pommel with dinner plate horn, and stirrup leathers that are stitched with silver metal embroidery.
“Ranching played an important role in shaping the diverse history of our state, from its beginning in the early Spanish Colonial Texas, to the 1877 formation of the Cattle Raisers Association of Texas, to the long cattle drives that originated in south Texas,” stated Dr. Patrick Cox, associate director of the Center for American History. “This exhibit highlights some of the seldom seen documents and artifacts from this important era in Texas history. We are very proud that we are able to bring this exhibit to Uvalde and the surrounding communities which are so historically rooted in ranching.”
The exhibit will be on display Tuesday, April 10, through Saturday, August 18, 2007. The John Nance Garner Museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Entrance to the museum is free of charge.
For more information regarding the exhibit, e-mail Beverly Hadley or call (830) 278-5018.
