Institute of Texan Cultures in San Antonio

Throughout the year, the Institute hosts carefully curated exhibits, educational programs, and special events, serving as a family-friendly, interactive place for kids and adults to explore the cultural and ethnic roots of the great state of Texas. Through its affiliation with the Smithsonian, the institute showcases world-class exhibits, so there’s always something new to see. It also functions as an important research and educational center on matters related to culture and diversity.

Temporary and traveling exhibits offer insights into specific components of Texan culture, such as military history and the people who made it, stories on immigration, and new ethnic groups that have come to Texas since the museum opened in 1968. Samples from the past few years include:

• Smithsonian’s Sikhs: Legacy of the Punjab
• Made in Texas
• Texas Vietnam Heroes
• Patriots and Peacemakers: Arab Americans in Service to our Country from the Arab American National Museum
• Our Part of Victory: Texans in World War II

In addition to the ITC’s exhibits, its special programs and events bring an immersive element to the experience, especially for young learners. Special programming, such as the monthly Free Second Sunday, often focuses on the 1800’s period buildings of the “Back 40,” an outdoor living history area, where living historians and docents guide guests through days in the lives of Texas pioneers.

In June, the Institute hosts its biggest event of the year, the annual Texas Folklife Festival. The weekend-long event celebrates the food, dances, arts, and music of more than 40 different cultures.  

Whether you’re a Texan and you want to appreciate just how diverse your home really is, or you’re a visitor who wants to learn what it is that makes this state and its people so special, start your journey at the Institute of Texan Cultures.