I love history so I really enjoyed this museum. My husband and I spent a few hours navigating the grounds and absorbing the interesting facts that the museum offers. The highlight of the museum is Judge Roy Bean's information and gravesite, but it does a great job of presenting the Del Rio area's history through the years. It is family friendly and educational with a map that allows you to self guide yourself throughout the village. The grounds are well-kept and offer a great way to spend a few hours while in Del Rio. read more

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This museum was outstanding! Don't be fooled by its appereance, because it is a real interesting and authentic museum. There are many little rooms that display life in the early 1900s, most of which are air conditioned. Would definitley come again!! read more

This is an eclectic museum focusing on the history and culture of Del Rio. It sits on a little more than 2 acres and has 15+ buildings and plenty of other outdoor exhibits. There's a small gift shop in a historic building that you walk through when you first arrive and from what I recall, it was $5 per person to wander the grounds. Be warned, all the buildings are separate, so there is a little bit of outdoor time walking between the buildings, but they really aren't far apart from one another. Some of the buildings are air conditioned while some of the smaller ones are not - but you don't spend a lot of time in the smaller ones since there isn't a lot to see in them. There's a replica of the Jersey Lilly (Judge Roy Bean's place in Langtry, TX), an old railroad caboose that you can walk through, an old fire truck, and plenty of history about Del Rio, from old west times to the 21st century. Make sure you check out the Cadena Nativity - it's a huge Nativity collection; it's 32 feet long, 20 feet deep, and 10 feet tall at parts. It was donated by the family of the lady who created it at her home. One of the buildings even showcases famous people from Del Rio. Some of the buildings are original old buildings that were relocated here, and some were built just for this place and their exhibits. From what I recall, street parking only - but there was plenty available when I was there. And one last tidbit - Judge Roy Bean and his son Sam are both buried here - their remains were reinterred after grave site desecrations happened at their original burial locations. Oh yeah, I almost forgot. Two random parrots are located on the grounds in cages. Pretty birds, but kinda random to be there lol! Don't expect too much here, but it is a good place to spend a couple of hours if you find yourself stuck in Del Rio (which is not a bad little town by the way!). read more

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A motley collection of old and new buildings, some relocated from elsewhere in Del Rio, memorialize a motley collection of heroes and rogues from Del Rio history. Read the history of the local radio station owner, local physician, lawman and others. Admire some old tractors and tiny cars. Kids will love climbing through the 1947 caboose car. The Cadena nativity is a large indoor air-conditioned diorama of the birth of Jesus. Don't miss the barbed wire exhibit! Grounds include La Zapa Chapel. I'm not sure how the Indonesian cockatoo and the South American Macaw birds fit in to Texas history but you can see them too. Also an outdoor event space with a big bar & a pavilion, host a party here. Admission price of $8 per adult is outrageous but parking is free. read more

Whitehead Memorial Museum - Hours & costs - Museums Near Me - Del Rio, Texas

This was a great little place...though the museum should have the words "final resting place of Judge Roy Bean, Law West of the Pecos" somewhere in the name. I'm a West Texas junkie and that was the main reason we went there...to pay our respects to one of the finest men in the history of the Wild West. The museum itself is great. Really cute, lots of different types of exhibits. Old historical buildings have been rounded up, air conditioned (big selling point for me), and filled with either period pieces or made into a museum for some related topic. They have the first mercantile from the area complete with family living quarters upstairs. And this isn't a stay-behind-the-velvet-rope kind of place. This is a get-out-there-and-touch-something kind of place. I'm sure they did not intend on me doing this, but I totally played "What Child is This" on Lillie Langtry's traveling piano...poorly. But still...this is the actual piano that Lillie Langtry used to play and I PLAYED IT. They have exhibits from XERA which was part of the old Mexican radio tradition and home to Wolfman Jack to one of the largest nativity scenes ever assembled. They have old buildings, cabooses, dioramas, banks, replicas of the Jersey Lily and tons of other cool stuff. AND...it's built on the old San Felipe Irrigation Canals, which is pretty darned cool. They also have birds and prairie dogs. *moment of silence* And of course, the final resting place for Judge Roy Bean. *wipes away a little tear* You know he was totally in love with the actress Lillie Langtry. He named the town Langtry, the bar was the Jersey Lily, and he even built and Opera House for her to sing in when she visited. And they conversed regularly. She did come to visit him, but he died just months prior to her visit. read more

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Don't mind the dust, just get to Whitehead Museum, and sit a spell. As I get older, I truly feel I was born one hundred years too late. My recent, (July 2013) visit was my second visit (20 years later). My teenage daughter spent part of her four hours of a summer day watching Casper the resident Cocktail, gnaw at his cage, and paused at the grave sites of Judge Roy Bean, and his son. The old Perry Mercantile building, and Native American exhibits were our favorites. Please don't make a trip with your white gloves, and expect to stroll on glossy marble floors. This is a small Texas town museum, proudly preserving the rich history of the area, from the early cave dwellers, to the people the railroad brought in, and the citizens that lived, and left a legacy here. The staff are friendly, and happy to chat if you're willing to lend an ear. So worth the admission fee, and a few hours of a hot summer day. read more

This is a unique, oddball museum that is all the more charming because it doesn't try to be touristy. It has a collection of old, more modern (20th century), and replica buildings. It has a lot of original artifacts surrounded by cheesy exhibits. There are kid-friendly areas, but watch out for the bees. In between the mixed messages, I found a lot of cool history from all different times in Del Rio's past. This is really a local museum that just takes in whatever exhibits are donated. If you're into checking places out from off the beaten path and want something to remember, the $5 is well spent. If you prefer a well-organized experience, this is not your thing. read more

For a small town museum this one was well stocked with various rural antiquities. Several of the displays were very interesting and informative. read more

Whitehead Memorial Museum - Nice museum with lots to see in old buildings. - Museums Near Me - Del Rio, Texas

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This place is great, very informative. Workers are very nice and helpful. A definite must for the kids.

I am trying to talk to the museum director and your staff is hanging up the phone. I am leaving this review in hopes of someone calling me back. read more

The Whitehead Museum it reminds me when I was in elementary. We took a trip here and the best part I liked was closing our eyes and imagining we were Indians as we hear the drum. read more

The man that works at the store was very resourceful and gave us a lot of info. The museum has many neat exhibits for adults and children. Would very much return read more

This museum is a treasure! There is so much to take in, and any true Texan would love this place! As the previous review covered the flavor of this exhibit, I would recommend anyone who loves Texas history and nostalgia to come and take a gander. The greatest piece in the exhibit is a painting in the chapel, which depicts people from all over the world, seeing Jesus for the first time. The expressions are are something you have to see for yourself. I would love to have a poster of it. Anyway, this an awesome one of a kind museum. The employees are also so kind and helpful. read more

This was a truly unexpected treasure. Their website does not do the exhibits justice. While exploring the exhibits you will see everything from Old West memorabilia to tropical birds. If you are in the area please treat yourself and go see it. My wife and I have traveled throughout the West and this is by far the best local Museum we have seen. read more

if you love history and like to feel immersed surrounded by original artifacts and several original buildings of historical importance, this is the place for you. very friendly, inviting, lots to see and you can even bring a picnic lunch! read more