Published: October 09, 2009 10:10 am      

Museum: Time short to see ‘A Tejano Son of Texas’ exhibit

San Marcos — If you haven't seen the traveling exhibit currently on display at the Lyndon Baines Johnson Museum of San Marcos, you better get going because its days are numbered.

The exhibit, titled “A Tejano Son of Texas,” opened national Hispanic Heritage Month here to a near-record crowd on Sept. 16. The eight-panel exhibit will be shipped back to TexasTejano.com in San Antonio on Oct. 16.

The exhibit tells the story of the life, times and accomplishments of early Texas pioneer Jose Policarpio “Polly” Rodriguez. The multi-talented Tejano's family tree included a number of local residents who are proud of their heritage.

The story of “Polly” Rodriguez reflected in the exhibit begins with his birth in 1829 in the State of Coahuila y Tejas, Mexico, and continues with his new life in San Antonio and neighboring South Texas areas in the 1840s. During his lifetime, he was a gunsmith and hunter, a scout and guide for the U.S. military, a Texas Ranger during the Civil War, a rancher, a justice of the peace and eventually a traveling Methodist minister. He died in Poteet in 1914.

The museum's permanent and rotating exhibits, educational tours and special events have brought a unique cultural experience to San Marcos, welcoming a number of visiting university classes, local private schools and public school groups from the area and even as far away as Houston. Collaborations and partnerships with Texas State, the Texas Historical Commission and various civic and cultural organizations have helped to foster an increased interest in local tourism development, historic preservation, and the legacy of Lyndon Johnson.

Current hours are 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays, and Sundays and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday s. watch local listings for hour changes that are coming up later this month.

Contact Scott Jordan at 353-3300 or director@lbjmuseum.com.