Museo Alameda facts for kids
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| Established | April 13, 2007 |
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| Location | 101 S. Santa Rosa St. San Antonio, Texas, USA |
The Museo Alameda was a special museum in San Antonio, Texas. It was once the biggest museum in the United States dedicated to Latino culture. It was also the first museum outside of Washington D.C. to officially partner with the famous Smithsonian Institution. You could find it in the historic Market Square in Downtown San Antonio.
Contents
A Look Back: The Museum's Story
How the Museum Started
The idea for the Museo Alameda began in 1996. That year, Ira Michael Heyman, who led the Smithsonian Institution, announced that the Smithsonian would have a presence in San Antonio. This led to the Smithsonian's program where it partners with other museums.
Later in 1996, George W. Bush, who was the Governor of Texas at the time, signed a special document. This document made the Museo Alameda the official State Latino Museum for Texas.
Opening and Early Exhibitions
The Museo Alameda first opened its doors to the public in April 2007. It quickly became a place to see amazing art and cultural works from all over the United States and Latin America.
Some of the cool shows it featured included:
- American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music (June 2009) – This exhibit explored the history of Latino music in the U.S.
- Myth, Mortals, and Immortality: Works from Museo Soumaya de México (June 2008) – This show brought art from a famous museum in Mexico.
- Azucar! The Life and Music of Celia Cruz (September 2007) – This celebrated the life of a legendary singer.
The museum also showed art by local San Antonio artists. For example, Alex Rubio and Vincent Valdez were featured in the 2007 show San Anto: Pride of the Southside/En El Mero Hueso. Another local artist, Jesse Treviño, had his own show called Jesse Treviño: Mi Vida in 2009.
In 2011, an exhibit called Manuel Castillo: The Painting of a Community honored Manny Castillo. He was a leader at San Anto Cultural Arts and helped create many beautiful murals on San Antonio's Westside. The show included his art and works by 16 other artists who painted murals for the program.
The Museum's Closure
In August 2012, the Museo Alameda announced that it would close on September 30, 2012. After its closure, Texas A&M University–San Antonio took over the space. A local TV station, KWEX-DT, also uses part of the building as a studio.
Featured Exhibitions
The Museo Alameda hosted many interesting exhibitions during its years of operation. Here are some examples of the types of shows visitors could enjoy:
Exhibitions from 2012
- Prehispanic Art in West Mexico – This show displayed ancient art from western Mexico.
- Guanajuato through Reséndiz' Art – An exhibit focusing on the Mexican state of Guanajuato through an artist's eyes.
Exhibitions from 2011
- Día de los Muertos: A Mexican Tradition – This exhibit explored the traditions of Day of the Dead.
- Manuel Castillo: The Painting of a Community – As mentioned, this honored local mural artist Manny Castillo.
Exhibitions from 2010
- Revolution & Renaissance: Mexico & San Antonio 1910 - 2010 – This show looked at 100 years of history between Mexico and San Antonio.
- Bittersweet Harvest: The Bracero Program 1942 - 1964 – This exhibit told the story of Mexican guest workers in the U.S.
- Arte en la Charrería: The Artisanship of Mexican Equestrian Culture – This explored the art of Mexican horsemanship.
Exhibitions from 2009
- Jesse Treviño: Mi Vida – A solo show by the San Antonio artist.
- Frida Kahlo: Through the Lens of Nickolas Murray – Photographs of the famous Mexican artist Frida Kahlo.
- American Sabor: Latinos in U.S. Popular Music – A popular exhibit about Latino music.
Exhibitions from 2008
- The African Presence in Mexico: From Yanga to the Present – This exhibit explored the history of African people in Mexico.
- Dichos: Words to Live, Love and Laugh by in Latin America – A fun look at sayings and proverbs from Latin America.
- Escultura Social: A New Generation of Art from Mexico City – This show featured new sculpture art from Mexico City.
Exhibitions from 2007
- San Anto: Pride of the Southside/En El Mero Hueso – An exhibit celebrating San Antonio's Southside.
- Azucar! The Life and Music of Celia Cruz – A tribute to the Queen of Salsa.
- Palace of Dreams: The Golden Age of the Alameda Theater – This exhibit looked back at the history of the Alameda Theater.
