Last Thursday, anticipation filled the Institute of Texan Cultures (ITC) as staff prepared to host what was expected to be the museum's final school field trip before shutting its doors permanently on Friday. However, the bus brimming with students from Crystal City failed to make it, as reported by San Antonio Report. This unforeseen mishap led to a quiet day, contrasting with the lively visits that the ITC, a staple since 1973, normally hosted.
UTSA officials announced their decision this April to demolish the 1968 World Fair's Texas State Exhibits Pavilion, the ITC's current home. They aim to sell the property and finance the construction of a new museum site. UTSA has struck a deal with the city and 1859 Historic Hotels, offering a potential future for the museum near Alamo Plaza, San Antonio Report stated.
Despite the sense of an era coming to an end, Monica Perales, UTSA associate vice provost of the Institute of Texan Cultures, expressed optimism about the museum's future. She hopes to see the former vibrancy return post-relocation to a smaller space in the Frost Tower lobby—a move projected to occur within months, with school visits resuming possibly by 2025.
The transition has been met with mixed feelings from the public. Some visitors, like Laura Cuellar, who has personal memories tied to the ITC since its World Fair days, spoke about adapting to changing times with a hint of resignation. However, over 1,300 individuals have signed a petition to preserve the historic building, spearheaded by the Conservation Society of San Antonio, which has opposed its demolition. San Antonio Report quoted the Conservation Society's executive director, Vince Michael, saying, "We just want the building to have a chance."
As preparations for the move commence, many docents find themselves at a crossroads, uncertain about their roles once the museum relocates. Docent Betty Kitchens, who is 87, doubts her continued participation when a new facility opens, possibly when she's in her 90s. Glenn Havel, another docent, hopes for a future for the museum near the Alamo and considers trying out as a docent there in the interim, the San Antonio Report interview revealed.
There remains a considerable task ahead for the ITC staff. Before the move, an extensive cataloging and packing process is required for the museum's collection of 3,000 artifacts, ranging from a 1898 horse-and-buggy hearse to a Native-made dugout canoe. Kandice Howard-Fambro, the museum's manager of volunteer services and interim supervisor of visitor services, mentioned the opportunity to test new exhibit types at the temporary space that might be featured in the permanent museum setup.
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