San Jacinto Museum of History and Monument to Undergo Safety Renovations
San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Park grounds, the Marsh Boardwalk and Battleship TEXAS remain open
February 2006
THE GOOD NEWS: At the San Jacinto Museum of History and Monument, the Observation Deck, the museum gallery and gift shop, the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library and the Jesse H. Jones Theatre for Texas Studies that presents Texas Forever!! The Battle of San Jacinto are undergoing extensive renovations to bring the entire area up to current safety codes.
THE TEMPORARY BAD NEWS: To make the renovations, the San Jacinto Museum of History and Monument, the Observation Deck, the museum gallery and gift shop, the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Library and the Jesse H. Jones Theatre for Texas Studies are temporarily closed.
MORE GOOD NEWS: Renovations to the monument are scheduled to be complete in spring 2006, in time for the San Jacinto Day festivities. Work on the elevators will continue through summer. Visitors to the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Park can still visit the grounds, the marsh boardwalk, and the Battleship TEXAS……and…..the San Jacinto Day Festival and Battle Reenactment will still occur on Saturday, April 22. This independence festival will celebrate the 170th anniversary of Texas’ legendary Battle of San Jacinto, complete with hundreds of historical reenactors staging the battle reenactment, dozens of food vendors, a music stage with continuous live entertainment, children’s activities and games, living history camps, craft demonstrations and more. The first ever Battle of San Jacinto Triathlon will be held that morning as well, with races finishing at the Monument.
MONUMENT/MUSEUM OFFICES: In January, the museum offices temporarily closed and the staff moved to John Manlove Marketing & Communications headquarters in Pasadena. Manlove, the owner of the company and mayor of Pasadena, is donating the use of his facilities to the museum staff. Staff can be contacted via the museum main phone number at (281) 479-2421.
John Manlove has been a Pasadena resident since 1980. He owns Manlove Marketing & Communications, a company which he started in a one-car garage and has built into a successful multimillion-dollar agency. Manlove takes his community involvement seriously. He has served as director of the Pasadena Chamber of Commerce, has been a member of the advisory board for the Pasadena Philharmonic and the Pasadena Plan Core Committee, and was given a Lifetime Membership as Friend of the Armand Bayou Nature Center, in recognition of his contribution to this invaluable natural habitat. Manlove’s priorities as Mayor of Pasadena are highlighted by the rebuilding of Pasadena’s streets, drainage, parks and other infrastructure; these improvements are being carried out under the City’s first-ever capital improvement plan, adopted by Pasadena City Council in 2002 and renewed in 2003.
“The San Jacinto Museum of History Association is especially grateful to John Manlove for his offer to house the museum staff for many weeks,” says Sarita A. Hixon, Chairman of the Association’s Board of Directors. “He personifies the Texas spirit of generosity and absolute dedication to this state with this endeavor and his time spent as mayor of Pasadena.”
The Development Office of the Association continues to operate from downtown Houstoni n the beautiful JPMorgan Chase Bank building. Chase Bank has graciously donated the use of these offices to the Associaiton for many years. Their address is 712 Main Street, Suite 200 and can be contacted by phone at (713) 227-1533.
RENOVATION PROJECT: In June 2005, $2.14 million was appropriated by the Texas Legislature for the repairs. The Texas Parks & Wildlife Department (TPWD), which operates and maintains the San Jacinto Monument and the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Park grounds, awarded the construction contract to KBR (Kellogg, Brown & Root). Preliminary work started in October 2005 with the majority of the work beginning earlier this year. Important components of the project include installing a sprinkler system, upgrading elevator safety equipment, creating a fire shelter on the Observation Deck, making safety improvements on the main stairway, and installing fire barriers and doors on the administrative floors.
While the museum area is under construction and closed to the public, it is an excellent time to make additional upgrades – renovations that are not included in the funding. “For these projects, the museum is continuing its fund raising efforts which will complement the current efforts by the state,” says Interim President Larry Spasic. “These projects will enable us to better conserve, protect and interpret our collections for educators, students, Texans and their guests.” Possible projects the museum wishes to begin during this time include the conservation of specific historical collections and approximately $500,000 in exhibition and display renovation, a $10,000 computer server, a $13,500 theater screen replacement, and $34,500 worth of additional security measures to protect these priceless Texas collections as well as the guests of the Museum and park. For more specific information on items needed or to make a monetary donation, contact Larry Spasic at (281) 479-2421.
The 1,200-acre San Jacinto Battleground State Historic site is located near Houston in the Pasadena/Deer Park/La Porte area, and includes the battleground, the Monument and Museum, and the Battleship TEXAS. For more information about the progress of the project, and the re-opening dates for the museum gallery, theater and observation floor, visit the museum website at http://www.sanjacinto-museum.org/Support_Us/Current_Projects/LifeSafety_Renovations/ or call the museum at (281) 479-2421.
Contact: Sellmark
Dianne Powell, Marketing Coordinator
Work: 210-824-9474
Cell: 210-887-8777
dpsellmark@aol.com
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