The Briscoe Museum has Admission Discounts Honoring Its Namesake and Celebrates Earth Day with Dirty Hands-On Fun
The Briscoe Western Art Museum is tipping its hat to one of its namesakes, Texas Governor Dolph Briscoe, on what would have been the governor’s 100th birthday. And if you were born in 1923, share the Governor’s birthday or name, come on in because the Briscoe wants to celebrate you with free admission to the museum.
Throughout 2023, the museum is offering free admission to anyone turning 100. Don’t have that many candles on your cake yet? If you were born on April 23 – Gov. Briscoe’s birthday – you’ll receive free admission any time you visit this year. And if your name is Dolph or Briscoe, stop in and visit any time – you will receive free admission to the Briscoe as often as you’d like!
The admission special kicks off April 22 in time to celebrate Earth Day, when the museum is hosting a day of arts, crafts and education to showcase how everyone can help preserve the American West. A rancher and businessman who had a deep love of Texas, Governor Briscoe appreciated the great outdoors and the vast beauty of the West.
Of course, April is also Fiesta time in San Antonio and no celebration is complete without a medal. The Briscoe’s 2023 Fiesta medal features the museum’s iconic bison kickin’ up his heels to show his boots for Fiesta. Medals are available online and in the museum store, so don’t forget to pick one up when you stop in the celebrate Earth Day and Governor Briscoe.
A Passion for Western Art, History and Culture
The Briscoe is named for Gov. Briscoe and his wife, Janey Slaughter Briscoe, who shared a passion for the American West. Gov. Briscoe served as the 41st governor of Texas (1973 – 1979) and before his death in 2010, he helped establish the Briscoe Western Art Museum, which opened in 2013. The Governor is recognized as having been one of the leading citizens of the state and a benevolent supporter of many civic, cultural, and educational institutions in Texas and the nation.
Celebrating Earth Day and the Beauty of the West
Saturday, April 22, 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Free with Museum Admission
Enjoy hands-on nature lessons and celebrate Earth Day at the Briscoe during a come-and-go program that features the Nectar Bar and Bat Conservation International, as well as free arts and crafts for all ages.
- Learn about the propagation of native plants and herbs, their value in nature and their habitat uses while gaining hands-on knowledge of how to grow plants from cuttings, seed and root division – and how to care for them – with Texas Master Naturalist Drake White, owner of The Nectar Bar. The Nectar Bar specializes in native pollinator plants for habitats, habitat restoration within ecoregions, and community stewardship practices, for businesses, schools, and residential. White is Native Landscape Certified and serves as the Chief Docent Manager for the Monarch Butterfly and Pollinator Festival. She was the project designer and manager of the Butterfly Learning Center at Phil Hardberger Park. Attendees will take home three pots of propagated plant starts to add to their garden.
- Bat Conservation International (BCI) will share information about bats and how they provide vital ecosystem services in the form of insect pest consumption, plant pollination, and seed dispersal, making them essential to the health of global ecosystems. BCI is leading the charge to ensure the worldwide survival of these extraordinary mammals, including the more than 15 million Mexican free-tailed bats that call the San Antonio area home each March – October at Bracken Cave.
Free Admission to These Folks
Museum members and children 12 and under, as well as active duty military members, receive free admission – and of course, all centenarians, Dolphs, Briscoes and April 23 babies do too!
A Western Oasis: The Briscoe’s Collection
Nestled off the River Walk across from La Villita, the Briscoe campus includes the McNutt Sculpture Garden and features 35 sculptures portraying various aspects of Western life in the garden and around the museum’s beautifully restored historic building that once housed the San Antonio Public Library. The collection spans 14 galleries with Western art and artifacts, including Santa Anna’s sword, works by Frederic Remington, Pancho Villa’s last known saddle, a fantastic Alamo diorama and artifacts, contemporary and historic paintings, sculptures, an impressive spur collection, and other cowboy and Native American relics, weapons and photography. And locals can enjoy it all for free on the first Sunday of each month.
Lasso a Deal Every Month: FREE Admission and Hands-on Fun
Locals
The Briscoe tips its hat to its neighbors the first Sunday of each month greeting Bexar County residents with free admission. The museum’s “Locals Day” waives museum admission so everyone can enjoy heading West without ever leaving San Antonio.
Bexar County residents can enjoy the Briscoe’s Locals Days through 2023, with free admission on May 7, June 4, July 2, Aug. 6, Sept. 3, Oct. 8, Nov. 5 and Dec. 3. Online registration for Locals Day is recommended. And if you can’t stop in on Locals Day, children 12 and under receive free admission to the Briscoe every day, as do active duty members of the military, making the Briscoe a terrific spot for everyone to enjoy any time.
Full Steam Ahead
Adding hands-on fun and education to the mix, the Briscoe’s free monthly education series “Full STEAM Ahead” educates and entertains on the first Sunday of every month as well. Learners of all ages work together and learn about the American West by engaging in hands-on, STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) learning experiences. Each activity ties back to the Briscoe’s art and artifacts, bringing the West to life in a new way. Enjoy STEAMing 1 – 3 p.m. on the first Sunday of every month at the Briscoe.
The Briscoe is open Thursday through Monday, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m. and closed to the public on Tuesdays and Wednesdays. Admission is free for children 12 and under and for active duty members of the military. The museum is proud to participate in Museums For All, Blue Star Museums and Bank of America Museums on Us. The Briscoe is located on the south end of the River Walk, near the Arneson River Theatre and La Villita, with convenient parking at the Riverbend Garage directly adjacent to the museum or one of many downtown surface lots. Museum hours, parking and admission details are available online.
