As the Witte Museum prepares for its centennial, an exhibition traces the Steves family’s pivotal role in shaping the Alamo City.
SAN ANTONIO — The Witte Museum is gearing up for its 100th birthday next year, and it’s celebrating by telling a story rooted in family, community and a whole lot of hometown pride.
One of the big centennial exhibitions, “The Steves Family: Building San Antonio,” runs Nov. 22, 2025 – June 21, 2026, and it’s all about tracing how one family business helped shape the Alamo City – it’s a walk-through of San Antonio’s past that still echoes across the city’s streets, buildings and communities.
“The Steves Family: Building San Antonio offers a fascinating look at how everyday work and civic effort shaped the city we know today,” said Michelle Everidge, PhD, CEO and President of the Witte Museum. “As the Witte gears up to celebrate its 100th birthday, we invite visitors to explore how the past remains visible all around us in the buildings, streets and communities of San Antonio.”
Housed in the newly named Steves Family Gallery, the exhibition brings out rarely seen photos, documents and objects from the Witte’s collections, plus a few special loans from the family itself. Visitors can expect everything from personal items brought over by the Steves’ German immigrant ancestors like a carved pipe and family Bible to a firefighter’s helmet from the city’s early volunteer fire companies. And yes, there are vibrant Fiesta garments on display, including a coronation robe and a tiny child’s page outfit. Interactive displays also let visitors dig into the Steves family tree and explore historic homes still standing in neighborhoods across San Antonio.
Beyond the family story, the exhibition highlights the expansion of the town from the arrival of the railroad to downtown street paving to wartime industries. Through it all, generations of the Steves family appear as business owners, civic leaders and everyday people.
“This exhibition is about how people, work and place come together over time,” said Nalleli Guillen, PhD, Vice President of Interpretive Strategy. “Visitors will recognize moments and landmarks from San Antonio’s past that still connect to the city’s landscape today.”
The show will run throughout most of the Witte’s centennial year in 2026, making it a core part of the museum’s big birthday celebration. The Steves family has been tied to the Witte since its start as the original 1926 museum building was constructed with lumber from Steves & Sons.
For more information about the exhibit or to purchase tickets, CLICK HERE.