Museum of the Big Bend — Attraction in Alpine

Well, the people who work in the giftshop are morons. I asked if I could get a discount to buy 5 walking sticks. They said no. They wouldn't give me any sort of discount and acted as if the question was preposterous. One of the sticks had some cracks I asked about that they said no. I inquired about their return policy they said they couldn't do it unless I paid cash because they can't figure out how to void it or whatever. Pretty absurd.

Then, they locked me out at 10 of the closing time and the woman knowing I was going to check out left the front desk and we had to wait for someone else to come to make the purchase. I wound up having to go to an ATM to get cash to make the purchase so I'd have the option of returning one of the sticks... but of course they took the cash but still...

My husband and I have been regular visitors to Big Bend NP and State Park for many years and finally got a chance to visit this lovely museum. We have also followed the work of Sul Ross’s Center for Big Bend Studies and have been impressed by and learned much from the work done by its faculty. Having said that, we both wished the new museum expansion had more archeaeogical and paleontology exhibits rather than meeting space. The university must have a magnificent collection of artifacts and specimens, yet only a fraction of those collections is on display. We do want to say that what is on display is very well presented with excellent interp, especially the Tall Rock Shelter exhibit—-it is a fabulous re-creation of this important prehistoric site and on its own is worth the $10...

(Warning: young adults from Central Florida in for vacation) After a great week at BBNP, we entered a rainy weekend in Alpine. The Museum was INDOORS, NEARBY, AND FREE (donations welcome)… yet it FAR EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS of just another way to escape the rain. The museum itself is probably just a little larger than a three-bedroom home yet somehow SO MANY EXHIBITS COVERING A VAST AMOUNT OF TOPICS ARE DISPLAYED- and very organized as well. We saw fossils found around the parks, the history of its geographical formations, historic sites around Alpine, typical goods for sale from stores long ago… the accompanying signs were very informative and there are MANY VISUALS TO...