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Community Altar Exhibit webThe Community Altar Exhibit at Museum of South Texas History closes Sunday, November 7, and will conclude with a Sunday Speaker Series reception from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.

Visitors are welcome to enjoy one last look at the exhibit, which was built by 10 community organizations and individuals. This exhibit honors and celebrates departed loved ones with favorite items, photographs and the traditional offerings such as salt and cempasuchiles known as marigolds. Each altar was built by a family friend, relative or a community organization.

During the reception the following community altar builders will be present to answer any questions: The Pan American Round Table of Edinburg, honoring founder Florence Terry Griswold; the San Antonio Eye Bank, honoring those who donated organs for others to see; St. John’s Episcopal School from McAllen; McAllen Memorial Mexican American Studies, honoring long time coach Alfredo “Boxer” Hernandez; the RGV Families & Friends of Murdered Children Inc.; Edinburg C.I.S.D. Longoria Middle School art students, honoring family pets; and family altars for Lupe Hernández and Evangelina Betancourt Martínez.

The centerpiece of the exhibit is an altar built by the staff at the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives at MOSTHistory. The altar features vintage photographs of unidentified individuals that were found within the museum’s photograph collection. The altar honors these nameless individuals and carries a preservation message about the importance of documenting family photographs.

This program is made possible by the generous support from the Carmen C. Guerra Endowment. Mrs. Guerra was committed to educational causes in the Rio Grande Valley. This named endowment was created by her family to honor her memory and to continue providing educational opportunities for the community.

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.

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