Austin, Texas, is home to a monument of culture and education, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum. This esteemed institution stands as a premier destination for understanding the rich and complex tapestry of Texas history, inviting visitors on an immersive journey through time. The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum not only educates but inspires, chronicling the vast story of the Lone Star State from its earliest inhabitants to its modern-day innovations.
Conceived from the vision of former Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, the museum opened its doors in 2001. Bullock’s aspiration, initiated in 1996, was to establish a state history museum in Austin, within sight of the Capitol building, one that would truly embody the spirit and grandeur of Texas. The Texas Legislature approved this ambitious project in 1997, with construction commencing in 1998. Today, the magnificent building, situated at the intersection of Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard and Congress Avenue, fully realizes Bullock’s profound vision.
The Architectural Grandeur and Visionary Design
The museum’s structure itself is a tribute to Texas heritage, constructed with granite sourced from the same quarry that supplied the iconic Texas Capitol. It is crowned by a majestic copper dome that gleams under the Texas sun. The building’s facade features six distinctive sculpture panels, each depicting a pivotal chapter in the state’s storied past. Outside, the Lone Star Plaza greets visitors with a towering 35-foot-tall bronze star and the six historic flags of Texas, proudly flying atop 50-foot flagpoles, symbolizing the state’s diverse governance throughout history.
Stepping into the expansive lobby, visitors are immediately drawn into a grand four-story rotunda. On the floor, a unique 40-foot diameter terrazzo design depicts a symbolic campfire scene, embodying the enduring themes of Texas’s past. Encircling this artwork is the poignant inscription: “Born Around the Campfires of Our Past — The Story of Texas.” Beyond the rotunda, the Grand Lobby reveals a polished granite map of Texas, approximately 50 feet in diameter, setting the stage for an unforgettable exploration.
An Immersive Journey Through Texas’s Past
The Texas State History Museum boasts three floors of engaging, state-of-the-art exhibits and 17 different media and interactive experiences, meticulously tracing the entirety of Texas history. Spanning 34,000 square feet of exhibit space, it comprehensively tells “The Story of Texas.” Operating as a non-collecting museum, its dynamic approach allows for a continuous rotation of over 700 artifacts, sourced from other museums, state archives, agencies, and private donors. This ensures that regular visitors can always discover new facets of Texas’s unfolding chronicle. Additionally, the special exhibit hall hosts three to four unique exhibitions annually, providing fresh perspectives on various historical topics.
Floor 1: Encounters on The Land
The first floor, themed Encounters on The Land, delves into the convergence of diverse cultures and humanity’s interaction with the varied landscapes of Texas. Visitors are introduced to the rich histories of pre-Columbian Native American tribes and the intrepid Spanish Conquistadors. A significant highlight is the captivating saga of the French explorer Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle. His ill-fated mission to establish a settlement near the Mississippi River led him instead to Matagorda Bay on the Texas Coast. When La Salle and part of his crew ventured inland, his remaining ship, La Belle, a 53-foot barque, tragically ran aground in a storm and sank, resting on the Gulf of Mexico floor for over three centuries.
The recovery of La Belle by the Texas Historical Commission in the mid-1990s was a monumental achievement. Its contents, along with Henri Joutel’s narrative journal, vividly recount this dramatic episode. The ship’s hull was preserved at the Marine Archaeology facility of Texas A&M University, College Station, and in 2013, it was reassembled and displayed within the museum. Many artifacts from La Belle, including a magnificent bronze cannon, are showcased at the museum and six smaller museums along the Texas coast as part of the La Salle Odyssey Project. The cannon, bearing King Louis’s crest, two leaping dolphin handles, and the crest of the French Navy commandant, undeniably confirms the ship’s French registry. The remainder of the first floor explores the mission era, immigration, and colonization by settlers from New Spain, Mexico, the United States, and 19th-century Europeans, alongside displays on Native Americans and westward expansion.
Floor 2: Building the Lone Star Identity
The second floor’s theme, Building the Lone Star Identity, begins in the 1820s with the growing Anglo interest in Texas, spearheaded by Stephen F. Austin. Exhibits and interactive experiences vividly recount the pivotal people and events leading up to the Texas Revolution and continuing through the Texas Centennial in 1936. Following the decisive Battle of San Jacinto in April 1836, where the Mexican army under Santa Anna surrendered to the Texians led by Sam Houston, Texas emerged as an independent Republic for nearly a decade. Sam Houston, the most illustrious of its four presidents, guided the young nation toward U.S. statehood in 1845. He later served as governor but was forced to resign for refusing to support Texas’s secession from the Union during the Civil War.
Beyond artifacts, this floor proudly features the original Goddess of Liberty statue that once adorned the Texas Capitol building. A compelling centerpiece is the “Revolution Theater,” thoughtfully designed to resemble the Alamo the day after its legendary battle. This theater presents a powerful video presentation about the fight for Texas Independence, narrated from the compelling perspective of Juan Seguin, a Tejano political and military leader who played a crucial role in the Texian victory at San Jacinto.
Floor 3: Creating Opportunity
The third floor of the museum is dedicated to the theme Creating Opportunity, highlighting the diverse ways people have forged livelihoods in the Lone Star State. It meticulously traces the history of ranching, detailing how the oil industry revolutionized Texas, and chronicles the colorful history of its military—from the early Texas Rangers and the United States Cavalry on the frontier to the numerous modern military bases whose brave men and women train and deploy worldwide to protect freedom. This floor also explores new frontiers in space exploration, medicine, and technology that originated and continue to thrive in Texas today. Key exhibits include an AT-6 “Texan” airplane, an Apollo-era spacesuit, and a genuine moon rock. Engaging audiovisual exhibits also celebrate Texas music and sports.
Theaters on this floor offer unique interactive experiences. “Connecting Texas” invites visitors into a replica of an old Abilene rail station, allowing them to virtually journey to one of nine different historical locations. The “Reel Cowboy Theater” provides a fascinating comparison between Hollywood’s romanticized image of cowboys and the realities of their lives. Finally, the “Oil Tank Theater,” complete with antique oil company memorabilia, features a captivating video narrated by the late Walter Cronkite, illustrating the transformative impact of oil on the state.
Beyond the Exhibits: The Spirit of Texas in Film
A highlight of the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum experience is its extraordinary multi-media special effects theater, one of its kind in Texas. This immersive venue accommodates an audience of up to 200, offering a unique sensory experience through three massive screens and thrilling special effects. The signature presentation, “The Star of Destiny,” narrated by the character of Sam Houston, takes the audience on an epic journey through the state’s history, emphasizing stories of perseverance and the indomitable spirit of the Texan people. Another captivating film, “Wild Texas Weather,” explores both the historical and contemporary tumultuous weather patterns of the Lone Star State. This energy-packed 22-minute film, promising to astonish audiences, is narrated by legendary singer-songwriter Ray Wylie Hubbard, with additional performances by Omar Kent Dykes, Toni Price, and Carolyn Wonderland, creating a truly memorable experience.
Planning Your Visit to the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum
In addition to its unparalleled exhibits and cinematic experiences, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum offers several amenities to enhance your visit. These include a large indoor/outdoor café for refreshments, a comprehensive Museum store for unique souvenirs and educational materials, Austin’s only (as of this writing) IMAX Theatre with both 2D and 3D capabilities, and a convenient underground parking garage. The museum is a proud division of the Texas State Preservation Board.
The Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum is an essential destination for anyone seeking to understand the rich, diverse, and often dramatic history of Texas. It masterfully blends authentic artifacts with engaging interactive displays and cutting-edge multimedia to tell a story that resonates with visitors of all ages. We encourage all our readers to experience this incredible museum for yourselves and discover the fascinating saga of The Story of Texas firsthand.
