BG John C.L. Scribner Texas Military Forces Museum Camp Mabry • Austin, Texas NewsQuarterly Fall 2012 In this issue 3 Director’s Corner Jeff Hunt 4 Deputy Director’s Report Lisa Sharik Works Begins on New 6 19th Century Gallery Exhibit Remembering The staff and volunteers of the museum are deeply immersed in an Robert Brodkin ambitious effort to expand, modernize and revitalize the exhibits dealing with the story of the Texas Military Forces from 1823 until 1903. Spanning the era from the first militia muster in Stephen F. Austin’s colony to the 7 creation of the National Guard, this part of the museum’s story line is one Exhibits Report of the most famous and dramatic in all of American history. Although the Edward Zepeda new exhibit will occupy the same physical space as previously, the impact of the renovated gallery on visitors will be quite stunning. The target date for opening the new exhibit is mid-summer 2013. 8 Continued on page 2 Foundation Update Tim Weitz 12TH ANNIVERSARY VOLUNTEERS: The Gates 10 Bob and Jean Gates founded Upcoming Events the museum’s photo archives 12 years ago and have been and Contact Info single handily running the department with little outside 11 help and even less money Support the 19th since that time. Century Gallery Exhibit Continued on page 7 2 The gallery will feature stunning artwork, like this painting by Don Troiani. Also included are meticulously reproduced battle flags. This is the flag the Texas unit is carrying in the painting. 19th Century Gallery Exhibit, continued A great deal of research and writing of exhibit text has Palmetto Ranch. Additionally we will be displaying a dozen already been accomplished for the Texas Revolution, War reproductions of some of the most famous battle flags Between the States, Mexican War and Republic of Texas carried by Texas units during the war. These flags are sections of the gallery. In addition to these periods, we are produced by Mr. Preston Furlow of Waxahachie, Texas, and very far along on the story of the Texas Navy, the Spanish- they are truly incredible in their detail and workmanship. American War and the Philippine-American War. Some of Period photographs and sketches by newspaper war corre- these topics — such as the Republic, the Texas Navy and the spondents will be featured prominently, as will the paint- Mexican War — have never been covered in the museum’s ings of famous artist Don Troiani, Rick Reeves, Gary Zaboly, exhibits. The others have not been dealt with in a system- as well as others. atic or in-depth fashion. The TXMF Historical Foundation has also purchased some That is all about to change. The current material on the original and reproduction items for display in the new Texas Revolution will be enlarged and deepened. The space, including a circa 1840s naval gun carriage for the entire story of the Republic’s military efforts will be told, as “golden standard” cannon captured at San Jacinto and will the incredible saga of the Texas Navy during both the subsequently turned over to the Texas Navy, some repro- Revolution and the Republic. The War Between the States duction firearms for the Texas Republic exhibit and an is going to get very expansive treatment — which is original August 1861 Richmond Daily Dispatch newspaper especially apropos since we are in the midst of the for the Civil War exhibit. 150th Anniversary of that historic conflict. Fundraising is currently on-going to help pay for this Among the more innovative components of the new exhibit $200,000 effort. About half the needed monies have been will be a 6-pounder field piece in an earthen artillery raised — allowing us to purchase exhibit cases, the naval redoubt which visitors will actually get to walk into, the gun carriage, a reproduction 6-pounder gun tube and the wooden deck and gunwale of a Texas Navy ship complete first six reproduction flags. This leaves us halfway to our with cannon, and an interactive touch screen exhibit that goal and we invite you to become part of this remarkable will allow visitors to vote for or against the secession of exhibit. All donors will have their name or organization Texas in 1861. The touch screen will include period music, permanently placed in the gallery itself with an expression courtesy of the Americus Brass Band, and after a visitor of our thanks for helping the museum honor those Texans votes, they will see a panel showing the historical outcome who fought for their state and their country during the of the secession contest in Texas as well as a running total formative century of the Texas Military Forces. of how our guests have voted since the exhibit was opened. You can donate online at the museum’s website The War Between the States area will also boast accurate or mail in or drop off your donation dioramas of the battles of Sabine Pass, Galveston and at the museum using the form on page 11. 3 Director’s Corner JEFF HUNT Well, 2012 is fast drawing to a close Three types of new signs were in- collection of armor and artillery on and I have to say it has been a very stalled. The large green sign over exhibit outside the museum. Major busy and productive year for the Texas MoPac for 35th Street now reads Les Davis, Camp Mabry’s Garrison Military Forces Museum. Visitation Camp Mabry and 35th Street. Smaller Commander, led the charge here and over the summer was quite robust and, green signs were placed on the worked our urgent need for help in after a brief lull marking the resump- shoulder of the highway on both this regard through the chain of tion of the school year, is picking up northbound and southbound lanes command. The result is that the CSMS again. We also hosted a number of reading “Headquarters Texas National Shop on Camp Mabry has embarked large events including the Hood’s Guard” and new brown tourist attrac- on a multi-year program to refurbish Texas Brigade symposium, all of which tion signs were installed on both sides all the outdoor vehicles and artillery helped expose a larger audience to the of the highway reading “Texas Mili- pieces. Working off a priority list museum as well as bring in some badly tary Forces Museum.” All of these developed by the museum staff, the needed donation dollars. Indeed, the signs will benefit civilians and mili- fantastically talented soldiers at museum is being utilized by an tary personnel trying to find Camp CSMS will be sandblasting and ever-growing spectrum of organiza- Mabry. Just as important they will aid painting all of these artifacts in the tions both in the wider community visitors who are looking for the coming years. The first vehicle to go and within the National Guard. museum and help to raise awareness in for treatment was the M24 Chaffee Among the many fun things we get to of the museum among the hundreds light tank from World War II. These do is provide a venue for promotion of thousands of people who drive up efforts will become part of an ongoing and retirement ceremonies — which and down MoPac every day. project and by the time we get all the are always a treat for us to assist. vehicles treated, it will be time to start Great things are happening on Camp the process over again. One of the major efforts of the museum Mabry as well. Brigadier General Ken staff and the Texas Military Forces Wisian, commander of the Texas Air More work is happening inside the Historical Foundation is letting people National Guard, worked with the museum. Edward, our interns and know the museum is here and encour- museum to renovate the F86 Fighter volunteers, have put up more rails and aging them to pay us a visit. We took on the parade ground. This was new exhibit panels in the Great Hall. a long step toward elevating our something the museum had long These not only provide better security profile over the last several months by asked for, but the general made it for the artifacts, they also allow us to getting the Texas Department of happen by getting the 186th Wing to give the visitor a neater, more uniform Transportation to install signs on adopt the aircraft. Some great Texas presentation of the museum and our MoPac for both Camp Mabry and the Guard Airmen came up and spent an story. About 80% of the rail project is museum. Working through our entire week giving this historic air- now complete and we will be striving Garrison Command, the museum plane a thorough cleaning, painting to finish the rest in the coming year. advocated having the Adjutant and repair job. The result is impres- The rework of the 19th Century exhibit, General request these signs from the sive and impossible not to notice. We detailed in our lead article, is also head of TxDoT. The subsequent are now working with the general to going forward at a brisk pace and request was well received and when get the same treatment for the F4 on promises to produce the most stunning TxDoT learned that the museum had display next to the F86. exhibit in the entire museum when almost 30,000 visitors a year and that completed. 20,000 people came out to see Muster Not to be outdone by the Air Guard, Day each year, our request was quickly the Texas Army Guard is also assist- approved.