Museum of the Big Bend Complex

A MOBB Complex for the Future

Almost a century ago, an arrowhead was placed on a shelf in the Biology Department at Sul Ross Normal. From this humble beginning, the West Texas Historical and Scientific Society came into being with the purpose of collecting and preserving the history of the Big Bend. By 1937, these West Texas pioneers created a permanent home to tell this story in the Big Bend Memorial Museum.

In 2007, the Museum of the Big Bend underwent a complete renovation and restoration. Now we are ready to expand our ability to tell the story of the Big Bend. The Museum Complex will double the space of the Museum, which will include a temporary exhibit gallery, a dedicated Tom Lea gallery and an inviting interior event space with a connecting outdoor patio that highlights the panoramic view of the western mountains.

Come build the future with us!
Contact Mary Bones, Director, at 432.837.8145 or at maryb@sulross.edu to learn more.

Converts the current Museum into a cultural complex
New structure compliments the historic building
The scale, materials, and rhythm of the new building is seamless
Public entrance is moved, creating easier access for all
Historic Museum building will focus on history and cartography
New building will focus on art, archives and archaeology with nature
Historic Museum exhibits in the Great Hall will be updated
The Museum Complex will create two additional temporary galleries and one permanent exhibit space
A Texas Map Research Center will be established in the historic Museum
A Cultural Center featuring both interior and exterior spaces unlike any in the region
Tom Lea gallery featuring his historic cattle industry paintings

Want to learn more? Contact us using the form below!

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Honor your family’s ranching heritage
at the Museum of the Big Bend!

The new Museum of the Big Bend Complex is scheduled for completion in early 2023. The Museum Complex will double the space of the Museum and will include a temporary exhibit gallery, a dedicated Tom Lea gallery and an inviting interior event space with a connecting outdoor patio that highlights the panoramic view of the western mountains.

Thirty glass guardrail panels will encircle the exterior event area. One of these panels is available for your family’s brand with a donation of $10,000 towards the Museum expansion. There will be only one brand per panel. The brand will be on a fade resistant white ceramic insert between two sheets of thick glass. The panel dimensions are 42″h x 44″w x 3/8″d.

A recognition board inside the Museum Complex will have the name of the donor, the name of the ranch and the date the ranch started.

To reserve one of these 30 panels for your brand, contact Mary Bones at 432-837-8145 or maryb@sulross.edu. Payment must be received by July 1, 2022.