Victoria College’s Museum of the Coastal Bend will celebrate the grand opening of “Innovation” – the final component of its permanent “Where Texas Ranching Began” exhibit – on Thursday, April 16.
The event is free and open to the public. Activities will begin at noon with remarks from sponsors and a ribbon cutting, followed by opening festivities from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m., including music, refreshments and mechanical bull-riding.
“Innovation,” sponsored by HK Ranch—The Family of Henry Clay Koontz, highlights the evolution of ranching and its lasting impact on the Coastal Bend region.
In the Coastal Bend of Texas, ranching developed as a unique way of life that connected people, animals and land. Introduced by Spanish missionaries and shaped by Indigenous and Mestizo vaqueros, the practice was strengthened by Mexican colonists and later transformed by American ranchers.
“Innovation” serves as the final chapter of “Where Texas Ranching Began,” offering visitors a deeper understanding of the people, technologies and cultural influences that shaped ranching in South Texas.
“Where Texas Ranching Began” will be permanently displayed in the museum’s new Borchers Leon Exhibit Hall. The six-year expansion project was a partnership between Victoria College and the Friends of the Museum of the Coastal Bend, with support from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
The museum is located on VC’s Main Campus at 2200 E. Red River Street in Victoria. Admission is always free, though donations are appreciated.
For more information and to reserve a spot for the mechanical bull-riding, visit MuseumOfTheCoastalBend.org.
