Texas

New West. Old West. And Roy Rodgers’ saddle, too

carollightwoodby carollightwood

If you enter the Briscoe Western Art Museum from the San Antonio’s Riverwalk, the first room on the right contains an interesting curated group of items/objects from the museum’s art collection. They are worth taking a look at even if you don’t want to see the entire 4 floors of art housed in the building. And there is no admission charge to visit this room.



  • Lucha Libre fighter sculpture
  • Contemporary southwest pot

In the museum are art and artefacts mostly from the Old West, currently including a group of George Catlin’s prints of Native Americans of the High Plains, published in book form in England back in the 1840s.

  • Catlin’s LaCrosse Players
  • Catlin’s War Dance

Wandering through the galleries you will also find old wagons, small sculptures and paintings. Here are some things I saw:

Plateau Women sculpture
Catlin focused on the men in his prints, but this contemporary artist created images of “Plateau Women” in pink marble.
"Fandango" painting at Briscoe museum
Called “Fandango” this painting gives a glimpse into Texas before it was part of the United States. A lot of men, not many women at this dance.
Chuck Wagon at Briscoe museum
A chuck wagon. It looks a lot like the one in Sisterdale.
U.S. Mail wagon
A U.S. Mail wagon.
Roy Rodgers saddle for Trigger
When cowboy movie star Roy Rodgers saddled up his horse Trigger for a special event, this was the saddle and bridle he used. Not even the early land barons had an opulent saddle like this!

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