Rusty Paulus and grandson Asher Murray operating trains in the exhibit.

Mr. Weber's, Mrs. Whalen's and Mrs. Barrera's 5th grade GT/Cluster classes from Passmore Elementary at the "S" Class model train exhibit currently running at the Alvin Museum.

Our new temporary exhibit has ties to Alvin citizens.

“When I was about 10 years old, I recall talking to Alice Purdy, one of Quanah Parker’s daughters, who was in her seventies at the time.” This statement was part of an interview with Jo Nell Parker, a resident of Alvin and retired teacher from the Alvin School District. Jo Nell was born and raised in Elkhart, Texas. She began teaching in Alvin in 1976 at Longfellow Elementary. Her teaching career also included being at Alvin Primary from 1965-67, and later moving to Disney Elementary from 1979- 1991. Her three children, Walter Scott Nicholson, Benjamin Parker Nicholson and Janay Nicholson Andrade attended Alvin schools. The interview with Jo Nell was prompted by the current temporary exhibit at the Alvin Historical Museum and its connection with the Parker family of Alvin. According to Ms Parker, her father Joe Bailey Parker had been encouraged by his father to research the Parker family history and its connection with the story of Cynthia Ann Parker and her son Quanah Parker. As it turned out, Jo Nell is a fifth cousin to Cynthia Ann Parker. In 1953, Jo Nell’s father helped organize an annual reunion of members of the Parker family and the Comanche descendents of Quanah. This reunion has continued over the years being held in various locations. The Parker still holds annual reunions at For Parker. Jo Nell remembers attending many of these reunions and as a child going to the original location of Quanah Parker’s Star House. She related the anecdotal story that in appreciation for Quanah’s astute dealings with them, business men built the house for him, and that it was the Indian Agent who chose his “go to town wife,” the only one of his seven wives who would be considered his legal wife. Jo Nell has lent the exhibit a Comanche Indian doll, given to her in the early 1950s by Vance and Anna Tomakara. Vance was a grandson of Quanah Parker and the great-grandson of Cynthia Ann Parker. Anna had made the doll. Other documents and artifacts belonging to Jo Nell’s family were donated to Baylor University in February of this year to be placed in their Texas History exhibit.

The Alvin Museum is excited to host an exhibit of the paintings of nationally known local artist Robert Earl McKinney. Robert was raised in Alvin where he attended Alvin High School and Alvin Community College in the 1950’s. His family lived on Sidnor Street a block from the high school. He was encouraged in his art endeavors by his art teacher Ms. Cherry Simpson. After serving in the military he returned to Alvin and taught art classes on House Street and later opened an art studio on Sealy Street. He travelled extensively throughout the west, Mexico and Central America, painting scenes as he went. Robert was selected to create three historically accurate paintings depicting the battle of the Alamo. As such, he spent a year researching records from the Alamo to determine the real stories to prepare for his work. Once completed, the three paintings hung in exhibit at the San Jacinto Historical Museum in 1982. It is also said that they were displayed at the Alamo Museum but this has not been verified to date. His work on the Alamo paintings was featured on the television program “Eyes of Texas”. Robert died in 1993 while still in his 50’s. His paintings are located all around the U.S. The Alvin Museum is proud to announce that it has collected twelve of his original paintings and eight of his prints from numerous sources to be displayed together for the first (and possibly only) time. This collection includes two of three prints of the Alamo paintings. Also view the “Eyes of Texas” segment which explored his work on the Alamo paintings. We welcome all of Alvin to come to the museum and participate in this once in a lifetime opportunity to view our nationally famous Alvinite’s work. #AlvinMuseum

Cameras & Photography

A new, temporary exhibit has opened at the Alvin Historical Museum. "Every Day Through My Lens" is Melanie Hughes' camera collection and display of her photographs. Melanie is a life long Alvin resident and delights in being able to share her passion of photography. This exhibit will be on display through April.

The museum,located at 302 W. Sealy is open Thursdays and Fridays and the first Saturday of the month from 11 - 3 and the first Sunday from 1 - 4. Admission is $3.00 for adults and children 12 and over.

Keep those Names Coming

Two more names have been added to the list of NASA/Alvin employees. They are Cyndi Skains and Dennis Lofton.

Remember the exhibit, "Celebrating 50 Years of History with NASA and the Alvin Community," is on display through November. Make plans to see it now.

More Names

Thanks to everyone who is sending in their names as NASA employees. Here are 3 more to add to our ever-growing list: Cyndi Skains, Nancy Wilson, and Robert DeWitt.

Mark your calendars so you don't miss this extraordinary exhibit. It is on display through November.

Bring Your Camera

Bring your camera for a "photo op" in an actual space suit. The young and young at heart can suit up for picture taking. This opportunity ends October 4, so plan to visit the Alvin Historical Museum this weekend.

This special exhibit, "50 years of history with NASA," features the engineering tools that took us to the moon, space suits, large models of the space shuttle and Orbiter, space shuttle helmet, space food, plus items never before on public display.

The museum is open 11 - 3 every Thursday, Friday and Saturday through November 30 and from 1-4 on the first Sunday of each month. Admission is $3.00; children younger than 12 admitted fee with an adult.

More 77511 Names

Keep those names coming! If you worked at the Space Center as civil service or support contractor during the past 50 years and live/lived in Alvin, zip code 77511, we want your name. The following names have just been added: Barbara Delcambre, Mary Ellen Bruce, James Stanley, Ernest Linwood Martin, Jr., Frank Dacus, Carol Mills, Robert Morris, Carol Roberts, Terry Roberts, Natalie Smith, Tim Stein, and Peter Sivillo.

To add your name email:alvinmuseum@yahoo.com or visit the Alvin Historical Museum's NASA exhibit on any Thursday, Friday, or Saturday from 11 - 3. The exhibit runs thru November. Admission is $3.00.

NASA Exhibit Open

This year, 2012, marks the 50th anniversary of NASA's arrival in the Houston area. An interesting aspect of this past fifty years of magnificent technical achievement is what NASA has meant to the growth of our local Alvin community and what the combined contribution of those living in Alvin and working for NASA has meant to the National Space Program.

To celebrate this piece of local history, the Alvin Historical Museum announces its new, temporary exhibit, "Celebrating 50 Years of History with NASA and the Alvin Community," which opened September 11, 2012. The exhibit will run through November with extended museum hours. In addition to its regular days and hours, the museum will also be open every Saturday from 11 - 3 and first Sunday of the month from 1 - 4. For more information call, 281-331-4469 or email: alvinmuseum@yahoo.com.

77511 NASA Employees - The End

Here is the final list of names of NASA employees residing in 77511 zip code during the last 50 years.

Mark Tacquard, Curtis Tater, Mary Kay Taylor, Mike Todd, James Tracy, Steve Troha, Carole White Collins Turner, Jerry Undersood, Wade Vance, Darrel Vandaviere, John Vandervoort, Betty Vaughn, Robert Baughn, Edgar Vest, Pete Vincent, C. W. Vowell, Charles Wagner, James Watkins, Sandra Watkins, Brian Watson, Mona Weaver, Katie Wells, Eugene Wendler, Silvia Were, Clarence Wesselski, Bob West, Ron West, David E. White, Lloyd White, Barbara Whitfield, Timothy Whitney, Lee Wible, Jr., Henry "Cap" Wilburg, Dick Williams, Wayne Williams, Rudolph Willman, Dedi Wilson, James Wisenbaler, William Woods, and Asa Yeamans.

If you live or lived in Alvin and worked at the Space Center during the past 50 years and your name is NOT on the list, please email alvinmuseum@yahoo.com.

77511 NASA Employees Continued, #3

Here's another listing of Alvin NASA employees:

Ray Mackey, David MacNeil, Carlotta Madina, Jerry Magee, Ray Malone, Matt Manger, Darrell May, Nora McCall, Jim McCormick, Jerry McCullough, John McManamen, James McNeil, Waynetta McNeil, Joe Melenric, Nancy Melenric, Chris Menton, Ron Mercer, Percy Miglicco, Bradley Milling, Willis Mitchell, Landon Moore, George Morgan, Kochettia N+Morman, Roger Morrow, Sandra Munoz, David Myles, Robert Navarro, Non Nelson, Georgia Norton, Clara Odom, Darryl Owens, John Panolla, Larry Patterson, Marin Perez, Carl Peterson, John Pinola, Tom Pletcher, Jr., Wayne Potter, Teddi Pruitt, Daniel Puperi, John Raines, Jeannet Ratcliff, Larry Ratcliff, Tony Redding, Dan Remington, Robin Reynolds, Tracy Rice, Joe Ripma, Basils Robbins, David Robertson, Glenn Roberts, Charles Rogers, Jr., Faye Roper, Kent Rutherford, Gordon Rysavy, Pete Sardelich, Craig Schlemmer, Lance Schueneman, Terrie Schuenemann, Janice Scott, Gary Shutts, Leo Silveri, Michael Slack, Bonnie Smith, Earl Smith, Evelyn Smith, Gayle Smith, Harold Smith, Norman Smith, Tracy Smith, Walter Smith, Rachel Soria, Carolyn Sower, Christopher Sower, Tom Stansel, Edward Stavinoha, Bill Steckert, Bryan Stephens, Margaret Sterling, Donna Stevenson, Tom Stewart, Janice Stiefel, Roy Stokes, Larry Strimple, and Bill Sullivan.

77511 NASA Employees Continue

Here's another group of 77511 NASA employees:

Warren Earls, Jr., Julia Ebarb, Braley Evans, Paul Ferguson, Robert Foster, Tessa Foster, Chris Fredericksen, Mae Froberg, David Fuesting, Theresa Fuesting, Claudine Fulgram, Fred Fulton, Jesusa Garcia, Thomas Garrell, Gaschen Geissen, Gary Geitzman, Cindy George, Ken George, Daniel Gerik, Robert Giesecke, J. C. Gillis, Kenneth Glover, Ann Goode, Fred Graham, Bob Gray, Rachel Guerrero, Ann Haff, Sherine Hagood, Carl Hall, Loretta Hamilton, Laurie Hansen, Charles Harris, Gloria Haywood, Freddy Hinson, Christopher Hoffman, Joan Hood, William Hopmann, John Hopper, Georgie Huepers, Clem Ivan, Mary Helen Ivans, Ramon Jimenez, Lillian Johnson, Anna Kettler, Jason Kimball, Walter Klindar, Frank Knox, Wally Kocurek, Richard Kruse, Richard K. Kruse, Steven Lacombe, Bobbie Lampe, Robert Langley, Monique Lawless, Sandrea Leford, Barbara Lewis, Lori Sparks Libermann, James Little, John Llewellyn, Mark Lostracco, and Linda Lovel.

77511 NASA Employees

So far, there are over 200 names of NASA civil service and contractor employees that live or lived in the Alvin area (77511) while working for the Johnson Space Center.

The following is a list of those folks:
Jessie Adkins, Bob Alexancer, Mary Arnold, Geneva Arteberry, Stanley Backman, James Barnett, Jerry Barnett, Bernadette Bass, James Benefield, Barbara Benge, Pansy Bishop, Gerald Blosser, Jerry Boone, Ben Bourgeois, Keith Bourque, Opal Bowen, Jimmy Bradley, Maurice Books, Brenda Broussard, Dennis Brown, Roy Brown, Jo Ellen Browne, Ronald Buckley, Ronald Duffum, Mary Burch, Adam Burkey, Donaldy Byerley, Janice Cmpbell, Edward Canull, Herminia Chapa, David Christiansen, Sherrilea Coiro, Ara Coker, Mike Collins, Larry Constance, Janice Cotton, L. F. Cox, Jr., Diane Dallas, Jim Dallas, Mynard Dalton, Raymond Darrah, Jon DeJongh, Phoncille Devore, Howard Dorris, Lenore Dorris, Andrea Drake, Linda Drysdale, Ruth Duff, John Duplantis, Larry Duplantis, and Duane Duston.
Stay tuned. More names to come.

Space Items on Display

The 3 month NASA display in the Alvin Historical Museum will run from September 11 through the end of November. Featured will be space memorabilia from numerous sources, plus a number of exciting space items on loan from the Johnson Space Center's exhibits area. One display will feature the engineering tools that took us to the moon.

During one two-week period, September 20 through October 4, there will be a "photo op" space suit available where the young and young at heart can suit up for picture taking. Bring your camera!

For more information and/or questions, email: alvinmuseum@yahoo.com

Alvin's 50 Years with NASA

This year marks the 50th anniversary of NASA's arrival in the Houston area. One interesting aspect of these past 50 years is what NASA has meant to the growth of the Alvin community and what the combined contribution of those living in Alvin and working for NASA has meant to the National Space Program.

Essentially every NASA technical and administrative discipline, and civil service and support contractor was represented by residents of our community.

As part of the recognition of the past 50 years of local history, there are plans for a 3 month NASA display in the Alvin Historical Museum. Another part of this event is to identify all thos who live/lived in alvin and worked at the Space Center during the past 50 years. To date over 250 names have been identified. For more information, email: alvinmuseum@yahoo.com.

"Quilts on Parade"

Alvin Historical Museum is hosting a new, temporary exhibit, "Quilts on Parade." Displayed are quilts of many ages, sizes and patterns. Quilt-related items are included, also.

The museum is open 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, and the first Saturday of each month and from 1-4 p.m. on the first Sunday of each month. Admission is $3.00; children younger than 12 admitted free with an adult. For more info., call 281-331-4469.