The Skyline Newspaper

Photo: A diorama from the museum features a historical chuckwagon. Photo by MaryAshley P. Gredell

Historical Museum Renews Itself

By MaryAshely P. Gredell
Skyline Reporter

Walking into the new Museum of the Big Bend is to be enveloped by the thousands of untold stories of the Big Bend region, on display in vibrant color and texture as large-scale exhibits full of human and natural history.

Visitors who might have taken a short look at the old Museum, once located in Ferguson Hall, would be shocked at the sheer volume and scale of the exhibits housed in the new location next to the University Center.

Upon entering the building, the eye is greeted with a sunset mountain mural nearly as high as the ceiling, a lighted topographical map of the entire Big Bend region and many of its attractions, and up above it all, a Quetzalcoatalus replica stretching its mighty wingspan as it once did years ago during the time of the dinosaurs.

Also greeting visitors is Tom Roberts, a volunteer with a welcoming nature and an amazing passion for and knowledge of Big Bend history.

"We don't know what people are most interested in when they arrive," said Roberts, "But we're here to point out what the exhibit and the region is all about. Many visitors have never even been to the Big Bend before; they come from all over the world in many cases."

Roberts is an Alpine native himself, who left shortly after high school but found his way back 12 years ago.

"I'm familiar with and very much in love with the Big Bend area. What I found really attractive about this museum is the history of the Big Bend that I wasn't aware of," said Roberts.

Which is the truth: even for the history scholar or the natural history buff, there are artifacts and information to surprise and educate the visitor around every colorful, well-designed corner. Though the museum space is not gigantic, the amount of exhibits carefully packed inside is impressive. Such work took five years, careful planning, and a diverse team of experts to create.

"They say it takes the village to raise a child, right? Well, it takes this village and the village next door to raise a museum," said Larry Francell, museum director.

"To build this place, we had help from the community, graphic designers, construction people; we had a lady who did nothing but the mannequins and their authentic dress. "Then we had photo mural crews. We had a crew that did nothing but rock work. We had a fellow who did nothing but videos. It took a lot."

The effort is obvious. Figures in authentic period dress accompany many of the exhibits, including a Catholic chapel, a buffalo soldier scene from Fort Davis, and two cowboys at a chuck wagon, among others. Next to the gift shop, an immense rockwork replica of the Tallrock Shelter towers over the visitor, complete with recreated pictographs; a cultural wonder that few eyes will ever see except for the recreation in the Museum.

"A skilled screw duplicated (and condensed) this beautiful, unique site. The problem is, you can't get there to the real shelter: it's on private land and it's nearly impossible to get permission to see it.

"Still, that site is totally and absolutely unique to the Big Bend; that's why we've put it here," said Francell.

Four cultures are featured in the museum: the Native Americans, the Mexicans, the Spanish, and the Anglo-Americans.

"Even people who grew up in this area don't always realize that there was a huge confluence of cultures who met here. For what most people would consider an uninhabitable desert, there's a lot going on," said Francell, later adding, "For a visitor, like a parent who's never been here before, it's a good idea to have an idea of the history and cultures of the area where their child is living.

"The idea is that this permanent exhibit is merely an introduction to the history, cultures, and natural history of the Big Bend. If you want to learn more, there are tons of resources in the area. We can't tell the whole story, but we want to introduce people to it and stimulate their curiosity so they can go and learn more."

The museum is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. -- 5:00 p.m., and Sunday from 1:00 - 5:00 p.m. Almost as impressive as the exhibits themselves is the admission fee, which is free.

"I think museums should be free wherever possible. If you start charging admission, people who ought to be visitors won't be visitors," said Francell, who, interestingly enough, isn't able to pick one exhibit as his favorite.

"I am so pleased with the whole thing. There's dramatic lighting; I think the figures, the chapel, the house…" said Francell, continuing, "These are elements you won't see in any other museum anywhere.

"What I'm most pleased about is the overall feel: it just works. There's lots of little surprises to discover around every corner."

After working as a volunteer, Roberts agrees wholeheartedly and encourages visitation from anyone chancing by the museum.

"I think that we, the museum, would be well served - as students would if students would let their family and friends know that they should really see this museum and study some of the history here. This isn't just a temporary stopping off point for them to get their education and move on; this is part of their education," said Roberts.

"Or it certainly can be."