MUSEUM of the Big Bend

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Photo by Rebekah Antrosio

If you ’ re looking for a cultural and historic adventure on your visit to Alpine , visit the Museum of the Big Bend . This museum , located on the Sul Ross State University campus , is dedicated to the art , culture , history , and nature of the Big Bend region . And now , there ’ s even more to see and learn at the museum , thanks to the grand opening of the Emmett and Miriam McCoy Building .

The McCoy Building is a stunning addition to the museum , doubling its size and creating more exhibition spaces and event venues . The building was made possible by a generous gift from the McCoy family , who own McCoy ’ s Building Supply .

The new building , designed by Lawrence W . Speck , FAIA of the acclaimed architectural firm Page /, seamlessly combines the original 1937 museum with a modern structure , creating a remarkable fusion of historical charm and contemporary design . Speck attributes much of his ideas to the surrounding area . “ The most significant inspiration for this project is the landscape of the Big Bend region ”, he said . The building is shaped to take in fully the views and mountains and other landscape features .

An impressive feature of the new building is the cultural center , which can accommodate up to 300 people for meetings and events ¹. The center has an outdoor observation deck and gathering area that offer spectacular views of the Davis Mountains .

On display is a permanent gallery for Western Beef Cattle , a series of rarely exhibited paintings by the late El Paso artist Tom Lea . These paintings , which depict the history and evolution of cattle ranching in Texas and Mexico , were commissioned by LIFE Magazine in 1945 and are now part of the Dallas Museum of Art collection .

The building also houses a temporary gallery for rotating exhibits , as well as exhibit space to highlight the collections and research from Sul Ross State

University departments . The current exhibit showcases works from the John L . Nau III Collection of Texas Art , featuring paintings by early Texas artists such as Julian Onderdonk , Frank Reaugh , and Porfirio Salinas . The building also displays murals by Clint Baermann , Xavier Gonzalez , and Julius Woeltz , as well as newly acquired works from the museum ’ s permanent collection .

The Museum of the Big Cattle on an Early Mexican Hacienda , 1945-1946 , Oil on canvas covered

Bend received a generous masonite , 20x33.75 ”, Tom Lea , Dallas Museum of Art , gift of LIFE Magazine contribution from Robert and Bonnie McKee as the couple donated their entire collection of Friedrich Ernst “ Fred ” Darge paintings , which are a part of the museum ’ s Mr . and Mrs . Robert E . McKee III Family Collection . Darge , a native of Germany , arrived in the U . S . from his home country on a merchant ship in Port Arthur , Texas , in 1923 . The immigrant attended the Art Institute of Chicago and worked as a commercial artist and draftsman . He moved to San Antonio for two years where he held his first Texas exhibit at the Witte Museum , although he then moved to Dallas and lived there the rest of his life .

The Museum of the Big Bend is open Tuesday through Saturday from 9 a . m . to 5 p . m ., and Sunday from 1 p . m . to 5 p . m . Admission is free , but donations are welcome . The museum also offers educational

Tom Lea , Western Beef Cattle exhibit . programs , guided tours , and special events throughout the year . Don ’ t miss the 37th annual Trappings of Texas September 14-16 , 2023 . For more information , visit the museum ’ s website www . museumofthebigbend . com or call ( 432 ) 837-8143 .