Collections
The ITC collections are currently housed in the Archives and Collections Building (ACB), a secure, climate-controlled facility operated by UT San Antonio in Leon Valley. This location ensures the long-term preservation and care of the museum’s extensive artifact collections.
A curated selection of items will be on display at the temporary ITC location in Frost Tower, opening in 2026. Rotating exhibits will offer the community opportunities to engage with the collection while plans for the new permanent museum are underway. Once complete, all items will be relocated to the new museum.
The university remains committed to the responsible stewardship of the ITC collections and to sharing the diverse histories and cultures of Texas with the public.
The university hired experts trained in moving cultural artifacts to transport all collections to the new Archives and Collections Building, a safe storage facility outfitted to modern museum and archive standards for humidity and temperature control to ensure the protection of valuable museum collections. Museum staff continue to preserve and care for the ITC collections, auditing each item to ensure all documentation is accurate and up to date. The Collections Manager oversees this process, managing the proper storage, handling, and environmental conditions of artifacts daily to safeguard them for future generations.
The university anticipates that the Archives and Collections Building, an offsite storage facility, may be required for approximately five years. Some items in the collections will be on view in exhibitions in Frost Tower beginning in 2026, but due to space limitations in the temporary museum site, much of the collection will continue to be stored offsite until a new permanent home for the ITC has been completed. The university is committed to housing all of the items in its collection in a museum-quality storage facility without interruption.
If you have questions about your loaned item(s), please contact the ITC team at TexanCultures@utsa.edu or (210) 458-2300.
The archival collections previously housed at the Texas Pavilion are managed by UT San Antonio Libraries Special Collections and are accessible by appointment at the Archives and Collections Building reading room. If you have questions about the archives, please contact UT San Antonio Special Collections at SpecialCollections@utsa.edu or 210-458-5505.
At this time, the ITC is not accepting donations of artifacts.
Yes, we do lend artifacts to other museums, historical venues, and organizations. To make a request, please contact the Museum Collections Manager at texancultures@utsa.edu or 210-458-2300.
Temporary Museum
The ITC is located at 111 W. Houston St, Suite 121, near the corner of Houston St. and Camaron St. This space on the first floor of Frost Tower will serve as the ITC museum’s temporary home for approximately five years. The location is easily accessible to visitors in downtown San Antonio and offers an engaging setting to host curated museum visits.
The goal of the temporary museum is to present the community with a curated experience while UT San Antonio builds the future home of the ITC. A selection from the ITC museum’s collection, as well as loaned objects and items from other university collections, will showcase the richness of Texan cultures. Special thematic exhibits in our rotating gallery will underscore the ITC museum’s commitment to community collaboration and allow for dynamic storytelling.
We worked closely with an exhibit design firm to shape the visitor experience at Frost. The goal is to tell the story of Texas history and culture through a thematic approach—focusing on the common threads that connect us as Texans.
This approach allows us to present unique and diverse objects in conversation with each other, offering fresh perspectives on familiar stories and highlighting connections across communities and time periods.
Given the limited space at Frost, we carefully selected impactful artifacts that best represent these themes and can help spark curiosity, reflection, and discovery.
Yes. The exhibits are built on the strong foundation established by the Institute of Texan Cultures, which includes decades of research and community engagement. We’ve drawn from these tremendous resources—collected over the last 50 years—to help shape the stories we tell today.
We also engaged community experts and cultural advisors at various stages of exhibit and multimedia development, and we will continue to collaborate with partners moving forward.
A core goal of our work is to ensure that people see themselves reflected in the museum, and that the stories we share are shaped by the voices and experiences of the communities they represent.
The exhibit at Frost is designed to evolve over time.
We’ll regularly rotate artifacts in the main gallery to highlight new stories and perspectives that align with the exhibit’s themes. Our multimedia kiosks and projection features will also be updated with fresh content as it’s developed.
In addition, a dedicated rotating gallery will host 2–3 new exhibits each year. This space gives us the opportunity to explore a wide range of topics and collaborate with community partners.
We hope you’ll come back often—there will always be something new to discover!
Operations
We can’t wait to welcome tour groups back to the ITC! Booking will open later this fall, with tours scheduled to resume in early 2026.
Be sure to follow our website and sign up for our newsletter to stay updated on booking details and other exciting news.
Visit our newly updated website at TexanCultures.utsa.edu for the latest news and resources.
Follow @texancultures on Instagram, Facebook, and other social media platforms for specially curated content, behind-the-scenes features, and more.
We love connecting with our community online—join the conversation!
To dedicate as much space as possible to exhibits, there won’t be a gift shop at the Frost location—at least not yet. We are exploring new opportunities for a gift shop experience in the future, so stay tuned for updates!
You’ll soon be able to purchase tickets to visit the museum online—we’re currently finalizing the new ticketing system and will share details as soon as it’s live.
We don’t currently plan to open an online gift shop, but we’re exploring new opportunities and will keep you updated.
Not immediately—but we hear you! Festivals have been a cherished part of the ITC’s history, and we’re exploring new ways to engage the public in meaningful and sustainable ways.
We’re excited about future opportunities to collaborate with community partners on programs and events that celebrate the diverse cultures of Texas. Stay tuned—there’s more to come! We encourage you to follow @TexanCultures on Facebook and Instagram, where we publish a weekly calendar of cultural celebrations across the state.
Education Department and Initiatives
Yes! The new exhibit was designed with the Texas Essential Knowledge & Skills (TEKS) in mind. Through artifacts, fine art, and multimedia, students connect TEKS concepts to living stories that define our state. To learn more about how the exhibit supports educators and student success, visit LEARN.
The ITC Education Department is developing a new generation of Tex-Kits designed for today’s learners. These updated kits will include a blend of physical materials and digital content to create engaging learning experiences and align with TEKS standards to support interdisciplinary learning. Topics currently in development include foodways, fashion, music, and fibers.
While they’re not available just yet, more information will be coming soon. Visit LEARN to stay updated or email ITCEducation@utsa.edu to express interest.
Archived ITC educational materials—like worksheets, lesson plans, and curriculum guides—are now available through Runner Research Press (RRP), UT San Antonio’s open-access online repository for scholarly and creative work.
Visit the LEARN to access these resources through Runner Research Press.
Absolutely! ITC educators are available to visit your classroom or community group—free of charge.
Our educators will bring a selection of engaging objects to spark curiosity and create meaningful connections to Texas history and culture. We’re happy to collaborate on hands-on learning experiences tailored to your group’s interests or curriculum needs.
To learn more or schedule a visit, please visit LEARN or contact our Education Team directly at ITCEducation@utsa.edu.
We’d love to explore opportunities to connect with your organization! Our Free Outreach Program allows ITC educators to visit classrooms, community groups, and special events to share engaging objects and stories that highlight Texas history and culture.
Whether you're hosting a meeting, organizing an event, or planning a program, we’re happy to collaborate and tailor the experience to your audience.
To discuss your request or schedule a visit, please reach out to our Education Team at ITCEducation@utsa.edu.
We’re currently developing a new internship program and onboarding process. While we don’t have openings just yet, more opportunities will be coming soon. Stay connected through our website and social media for the latest updates.
Support the ITC
Yes! Thank you for considering a gift to the Institute of Texan Cultures. No matter the size, every contribution helps us provide exhibits, programs, and special events that entertain, inspire, and educate audiences across Texas.
You can make a secure online donation HERE.
For other giving inquiries, please contact Felipe Barrera, Senior Director of Development, UT San Antonio Libraries and Museums at felipe.barrera@utsa.edu
We welcome sponsorships to help support our programs and events.
Please contact Felipe Barrera, Senior Director of Development for UT San Antonio Libraries and Museums, at felipe.barrera@utsa.edu to learn more about sponsorship opportunities.
Permanent Museum
After reviewing expert reports on several sites, UT San Antonio's favored location is adjacent to the Crockett Hotel, with an alternate site being considered at the UT San Antonio Southwest Campus.
The university envisions a new permanent museum that will showcase Texan culture to a broader audience through engaging, community-oriented programming – including a digital immersive experience. As we transition into our temporary space at Frost Tower, we will use this opportunity to refine our vision and explore new possibilities for the permanent museum.