The South Texas Museum building was once the headquarters of the McGill Brothers ranching interests.

Built in 1941, the building’s exterior style is reminiscent of the Alamo. It is built of concrete and stone cut from the Texas Hill Country northwest of San Antonio. If the walls of this building could talk, they would be able to tell you stories of the many people who have visited, including the Texas Rangers who used the building as a headquarters in the 1940′s.

The heirs of the McGill brothers donated the building to be used as a home for the South Texas museum in 1975. As you pass through the double-copper doors in the Museum, you will find yourself immersed in the history of Alice and South Texas. Collections range from Civil War era weapons to antique dolls, saddles to butter churns and one hundred year old typewriters to arrowheads. The Museum houses an extensive photographic collection of early Alice and Jim Wells County as well as a library for historical research.

In 1973, a group of citizens was granted a charter for a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) institution by the State of Texas. The heirs of H. Frank McGill, Sr. donated the McGill Bros. ranch headquarters building to be the home of the South Texas Museum in 1975.

The 1994 Board of Directors of the South Texas Museum initiated a Restoration/Expansion Project. The first phase was a full restoration and renovation of the existing structure, completed late November of 1995.

The Texas Historical Commission designated the South Texas Museum building as a Recorded Texas Historic Landmark in August of 1994. The marker will be dedicated in spring of 1996.