On April 19, 1970, the “doors to the past” were opened to the 1910 Jail and the rest is history. From that momentous day on, the museum grew from a small county museum (Hidalgo County Historical Museum) to an American Alliance of Museums accredited museum (Museum of South Texas History) with state-of-the-art exhibitions set on a campus encompassing more than a city block. For 50 years, MOSTHistory has had an incredible history of its own, independent of the many stories its on-going exhibits tell. “Golden Memories: Fifty Years of Preserving the Borderland Heritage of the Rio Grande Valley” highlights some of that history and is waiting for visitors to enjoy. This exhibit will close on May 1, 2021.
To celebrate the culmination of this milestone, the public is invited as visitors and guests (free admission) for the month of April. The daily complimentary admission is made possible by a generous gift from H-E-B, the museum’s Golden Partner for the 50th Anniversary. Souvenir golden tote bags will be gifted to visitors while supplies last. Visitors can enjoy exploring the “Golden Memories” exhibit with a Golden Memory History Hunt in hand. If the hunt is completed, a Golden Ticket for a weekly drawing for a $50 gift card from H-E-B will be waiting. Complimentary activity booklets for children will also be available for use in the galleries and at home. The April 18 Sunday Speakers Series Online will feature speakers sharing Golden Memories of MOSTHistory.
Recently renovated, the 1910 Jail is now open and houses two new exhibits, “The 1910 Jail: An Arresting Artifact and its Story” and “Faces de la Frontera.” You may want to reserve more than one time slot and come back a few times throughout the month as there is much to experience.
It is recommended that all visitors, including FRIENDS, reserve a timed ticket in advance to enter. As of March 10, the Board of Trustees of MOSTHistory has approved to continue the health and safety protocols already in place which include wearing masks, social distancing, self-screening for COVID symptoms, and sanitizing hands all for your safety as a visitor and our safety as a staff.
Mark your calendars for April, get your timed ticket, renew your FRIENDship as an anniversary gift to the museum, and come celebrate a milestone in the life of MOSTHistory and the community. A community that has created, developed, and sustained this wonderful place where our shared history is preserved and presented.
The museum is located at 200 N. Closner in Edinburg. For more information, call (956) 383-6911.
About Museum of South Texas History
The Museum of South Texas History is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums. It is located downtown Edinburg at 200 North Closner Boulevard on the Hidalgo County Courthouse square. Founded in 1967 as the Hidalgo County Historical Museum in the 1910 Hidalgo County Jail, the museum has grown over the decades through a series of expansions to occupy a full city block. In 2003, following the completion of a 22,500 square foot expansion, the museum was renamed the Museum of South Texas History to better reflect its regional scope.
Today, the museum preserves and presents the borderland heritage of South Texas and northeastern Mexico through its permanent collection and the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives and exhibits spanning prehistory through the 20th century. For more information about MOSTHistory, including becoming a FRIEND, visit MOSTHistory.org, like us on Facebook and Instagram, follow on Twitter, find on YouTube or call (956) 383-6911.
