Transporting visitors back in time, “Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy” captures the essence of a fading era through the evocative photography of Bill Wittliff. In the early 1970s, celebrated Texas historian Joe Frantz granted Wittliff a rare opportunity to venture into the heart of northern Mexico, where vaqueros still practiced age-old cattle ranching traditions. Through Wittliff’s lens, the exhibition tells the stories of these vaqueros’ rugged authenticity as they adeptly maneuvered through their daily routines, preserving a way of life that now resides solely in memory and the striking photographs showcased within this exhibition.

Immersive and poignant, “Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy” features bilingual narrative texts accompanying each photograph, vividly depicting the toil, determination, and sheer drama involved in wrangling calves through dense brush or taming wild horses in the saddle.

“Vaquero: Genesis of the Texas Cowboy” is curated by the renowned Wittliff Collections at the Alkek Library, Texas State University-San Marcos, and presented in collaboration with Humanities Texas, the esteemed state affiliate of the National Endowment for the Humanities. This exhibition is partly made possible by a generous We the People grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The official ribbon cutting ceremony will take place on April 8th, 2024, at 10:30 am at Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History.

Guests are encouraged to beat the line and pre-purchase tickets online today. The cost of entry is General Admission for non-Members. Museum Members and children ages 2 and under are FREE.

• Exhibition available to the public from April 8th thru May 17th at Corpus Christi Museum of Science & History
• Authenticity Captured: Immerse yourself in Bill Wittliff’s stunning photography, which authentically portrays vaquero life. The images capture the raw essence of daily ranching activities and preserve a disappearing way of life.
• Cultural Insight: Gain a deeper understanding of the rich cultural heritage of Texas as you explore the narrative texts accompanying each photograph, shedding light on the history, traditions, and resilience of the vaquero community.