Less than three years old, The Bryan Museum is housed in an historic architectural treasure. The grounds are gorgeous and the lifetime collection of J.P. Bryan is stunning.

I look at my phone. We are thirty minutes early. Our Uber driver offers to drop us wherever we like. We don’t know what we would like or where exactly we should be—the garden we think. Settling on the main entrance, she pulls up in front of the stunning and imposing edifice of the Bryan Museum in Galveston.

We are the invited guests of friends who are driving down from Houston for a late afternoon of wine in the garden and a smattering of Texas History. Michael turns to me saying, “Why don’t you call David and let him know we are here,” as he walks away finding a park bench under wide branches on the beautifully manicured grounds. Listening to David’s instructions I motion for Michael to get up and follow me.

Our wrists circled with paper bracelets to prove that we are legal, we head back toward the main entrance and turn left, entering what was once the parlor of the original Galveston Orphans Home. Looking around at the detail and understated opulence of the interior I am pretty much blown away. Then I begin to notice the collections, and my jaw drops.  Where did all of this come from and who is J.P. Bryan? I feel I should know, but I don’t.

My ignorance takes a back seat while I look and read and am amazed at the treasures within. I am in the middle of Spain’s influence on Texas and the story of their colonization of the New World. This room and the next is full of art and artifacts and documents and maps. A treasure trove. I feel like Edmond Dantes discovering untold riches in the secret cave. I am reminded of the wealth and power that emanated from the Iberian peninsula after the discovery, conquering and domination of the Americas.

The one item that captures my imagination is an exquisite chest; large and inlaid with intricate designs of mother of pearl, it was used to carry a Royal Spanish Grant for California Lands. It sits alone in a glass covered case accompanied by a minute sign and a tinier key. Who? How? Where? I have questions.

I wander among the missions and their stories, discovering that this is one of the world’s largest collections of historical artifacts, documents, and artwork relating to Texas and the American West, spanning more than 12,000 years of history. And it all started with a ten year old child who loved to play the white-hatted cowboy fighting forces of evil, beginning his collection with two guns—a front loading revolver and a four-barrel Derringer.

There is a lot to absorb, and we don’t want to get too far ahead of our friends. We make our way to the library, sitting in comfortable leather chairs, and wait for David and Lisa to arrive.

Together we venture forth, through rooms filled with Texas history, trying to grasp the reality of seeing the actual sword that was used in the capture of Santa Anna. I am familiar with the story of the discovery and imprisonment of the “Napoleon of the West,” but I do not know the story of the sword.  I need a guide.

It is a whirlwind tour with no time to really read about what I am seeing. We wander through a myriad of rooms, up the stairs, and down into the basement.  The space is filled with art and artifacts and books and maps and clothing and saddles and spurs and guns. Any and everything imaginable, and some things I couldn’t dream to imagine. Most of it Texas. All of it the American West. Mary Lou Hollander, the Director of Development, promises that when we return a guided tour by a very capable docent will be available to us. It is difficult for me to refrain from letting her know that my pace through museums is normally very slow. I need a day—at least a day.

Ending our historical adventure in the bar, La Sirena, we buy a glass of white wine, carrying it out to the garden where we sip and chat. Distracted by the weekly Farmers Market, held every Thursday on the museum grounds, Lisa and I decide to shop for olive oil and balsamic vinegar  from the Texas Hill Country Olive Company.  David and Michael head to the gift shop to buy intricate miniature models of soldiers who fought in the Texas War for Independence.

Back at our outdoor table, still working on that glass of wine, we inspect our respective purchases enjoying the music and the waning sun. The afternoon is winding down and there are only a few scattered individuals left. This is an amazing place for so many reasons. It’s architectural beauty. Its treasure trove of records, art, and memorabilia of the past. Its ability to bring community members together with history, wine, and song while giving area entrepreneurs a place to sell their fresh produce and artisanal products. The Bryan Museum is a wonderful gift to the city of Galveston and all who visit.

The Bryan Museum in a Nutshell

Hours & Admission

Hours: Wednesday–Sunday, 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. (Closed Monday–Tuesday)

Admission: Tickets may be purchased at the Ticket Counter.

Adults    $14

Seniors (65+) and Military              $10

Students (with valid ID)   $10

Children (6-12)   $ 4

Children (< 6)      Free

The Farmers Market

Every Thursday | 3:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

Founded in 2012, Galveston’s  Farmers Market is a non-profit organization operating every Sunday morning & Thursday afternoon on Galveston Island in coastal Texas. Their weekly outdoor markets, hosted at the Museum every Thursday, provides a direct connection to vendors creating and growing fresh whole foods, including farms, ranches, bakeries, cheese-makers and specialty-foods producers.

After Hours in the Museum

FREE Admission to Select Galleries

Join the Bryan on the first Thursday of the Month inside the Museum for FREE admission to select galleries. Get the inside scope on staff’s favorite collection piece at 6:00 P.M. Enjoy beverages such as white wine and beer (available for purchase in La Sirena).

Wine at The Bryan

Second, Third, and Fourth Thursdays of the Month!

Join the Bryan for a relaxing time and conversation with friends, family, and Museum staff. Wine, beer, and complimentary bar snacks will be served inside the Museum Shop. Please enter from our Guest Parking lot behind the Museum. We look forward to seeing you there!

Weddings at the Bryan

What a beautiful venue for the most important day of your life–or any other very special event. The Bryan provides a wide variety of venues for all types of events, from weddings, receptions, and rehearsal dinners to corporate meetings, dinner and cocktail parties.