Scott Johnson explains future plans of the Wimberley Institute of Cultures to Martha Kneiss.
Erika Kemp and Jack Vest were impressed with the museum.
Jim and Ellen Bathazar chat with Jic Clubb (center) at the opening
Penny Stone holds up a postcard for sale with the art done by her mother Dorothea Dare now 95.
The exhibit says it all...Phase 1 completed.
Tinka Eoff and Barry Rhodes stand in front of Tinka’s dad Buck Winn’s exhibit.
Suzanne Gordon and Diane Stewart talked about the restored museum
Wimberley Valley Museum now open
The date arrived and it was a real Grand Opening, and what an opening it was. Revealing to the public the finished museum lived up to their mission.
“The Wimberley Institute of Cultures is the heritage society of the Wimberley Valley that protects its historical architecture and promotes cultural traditions through Preservation, Education and Events.”
The new windows, doors and replaced wood sparkled and the new coats of paint made it complete, ready to brag about the valley’s history. The front room’s shades of past movers and shakers, people and events that were important to our “little bit of heaven,” not only save space in the little front room, but also show pieces of the past, like Jacob de Cordova.
Cordova was the original land speculator of the Wimberley Valley and more of the area. Cordova’s original headstone is on the property and will soon be repaired as an Eagle Scout project. But for now the museum is finally open.
“It’s nice, it’s interesting. Whoever did the display is talented,” Mike Caldwell said. Penny Stone said, “it’s fabulous.” And Barry Rhodes thought, “it’s an attractively framed presentation. They got it so you can read it.” That was the work and design by volunteer Jic Clubb, a retired museum designer.
The grinding stones on display are from William Winters’ then Pleasant Wimberley’s mill. The millstones are on loan from Ozona Bank. The opening of the museum is the completion of Phase 1 for the museum.
“It all started about four years ago…most archives were only made available to the fourth grade class once a year (school history tour). Most history is behind closed doors,” Scott Johnson, WIC director said.
The plan is for the back area by the new kitchen to house rotating history displays of the valley and its history. New members are needed and the valley has proven it has a lot of talent to pull from. Future phases for the museum will depend on the talent in the valley.
Now that we have a museum, the need for docents is well needed. Volunteers will soon have training sessions to relate the local history to visitors and locals alike. For more information on the Wimberley Institute of Cultures on Facebook or website at wimwic.org
In order to sign up to be a docent for the museum please email at: [email protected]