Opening this month in Galveston, the Bryan Museum will offer visitors a gateway to
travel back in time to experience the history and art of the American Southwest. The
museum’s collection of historical artifacts,
documents, and artwork was assembled
over a lifetime by Mary Jon and J.P. Bryan, spanning more than 2,500 years of history with over 70,000 items.
You’ll see amazing treasures which range
from ancient Native American cultural artifacts to modern 21st century pieces - all
under one roof. The collection includes
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rare documents in German, French, Spanish and English, exquisite saddles and
spurs, antique firearms, rare books, fine
art, religious art, folk art, portraits, exceedingly rare maps, and more!
And if this wasn’t enough, the building
which houses the museum is a lesson in
history itself. Formerly known as the
Galveston Children’s Home, the beautiful brick landmark, located at 1315 21st
Street, sits in the heart of historic Galveston Island. For nearly one hundred years,
it served as an orphanage and now as a
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sanctuary for the history of the Southwestern United States.
The 1895 structure, originally designed by
renowned German architect, Alfred Muller,
displayed a Gothic Revival style; perhaps to
accomplish the intended purpose described
in the Galveston Daily News: “the object is
to create a religious and still homelike impression upon the youthful mind.” Fortunate to find protection under the sturdy cypress beams, the children within survived
the devastation of the 1900 Storm while
many others on the island did not.
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