History comes alive in context, but there's nothing like a museum for the big picture. Catch a glimpse into San Antonio and the rest of Texas at the Institute of Texan Cultures on the eastern edge of HemisFair Park. Many of the city's other museums, some housed in structures that are historic in their own right, also play into San Antonio's cultural continuum. At the other end of the spectrum are contemporary structures, located at the foot of Market Square just west of downtown, one of which houses the Smithsonian-affiliated Museo Alameda.

Witte Museum
Located on the banks of the beautiful San Antonio River in Brackenridge Park, the Witte Museum is San Antonio's premier museum focusing on South Texas history, science and water resources. Founded in 1926, the Witte is home to an extensive permanent collection of a variety of historical artifacts.
 

	Buckhorn Saloon and Museum Discover more than 125 years of history.... Texas style. Experience a live western performance filled with action-packed shootouts, based on the life and times of Western legends.
	Fort Sam Houston Museum The U.S. Army has maintained a presence in the Alamo City since 1845. As one of the Army's oldest installations, Fort Sam Houston boasts the largest collection of historic structures -- more than 900 buildings which represent different eras of construction and reflect Army concepts in planning and design.
	The Marion Koogler McNay Art Museum  The Spanish Colonial Revival-style home opened as the first museum of modern art in Texas in 1954. Today visitors are captivated by magnificent works of art by modern masters including Paul Gauguin, Vincent Van Gogh, Georgia O'Keeffe, Pablo Picasso, and Jackson Pollock.
	Museo Alamedo Combining art, history, cultural education and live performances, the Museo Alameda tells the unique story of the Latino experience in America - past, present and future.
	San Antonio Museum of Art The San Antonio Museum of Art reclaimed the historic Lone Star Brewery, built in 1884, and turned the immense building into one of the most impressive art museums in Texas with a permanent collection spanning the continents.
	Steves Homestead Museum This Victorian French Second Empire design, three-story home was built for Edward Steves in 1876 and furnished in a late 19th-century style. Complete with its outlying buildings, the house has been maintained since 1954 as a historic museum.
	Texas Highway Patrol Museum This museum strives to educate the public about the duty and sacrifice put forth by the men and women who serve in the Texas Highway Patrol.
	Texas Transportation Museum The museum consists of a full size, operational railroad, a garden railroad, an interior HO scale layout and a large vehicle collection.
	The Texas Ranger Museum The Texas Ranger Museum creates a dynamic experience that portrays and honors the vast history of the world's most famous law enforcement agency. Located inside the Buckhorn Saloon and Museum, a short two blocks from the Alamo and 50 feet from the River Walk.
	U.S. Army Medical Department Museum Located on the grounds of Fort Sam Houston, this museum depicts the history of military medicine from 1775 to the present.
	UTSA's Institute of Texan Cultures Dedicated to enhancing the understanding of cultural history and its influence upon the people of Texas, UTSA's Institute of Texan Cultures features rotating exhibits that showcase Texas culture, history, science, and technology.

For more information about historical attractions in San Antonio, go to History and Heritage.