Thirty rare historic Texas flags, part of the touring “Texas Flags” exhibit, make their final stop at the National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame November 18, 2005 through February 12, 2006.

“Many of these flags will never be exhibited again because they are too fragile,” says Dr. Robert Maberry, Jr., the exhibit’s curator and author of the book, Texas Flags. “Light and moisture are the enemies. After this exhibit, the flags will be kept in dark, moisture controlled spaces to preserve them. In 50 to 100 years, these flags will be gone no matter what we do.”

Each flag – from 1835 to 1944 – has a story behind it. Some were carried into battle – sometimes by enemy soldiers and sometimes by allies. Others were flown in celebration parades.

Among the most prized is the battle flag of Hood’s Texas Brigade, which was carried at the Civil War Battle of Antietam. The first commander’s wife included pieces of her wedding dress in the flag.

“Standing in front of this flag is the closest that people can get to the Battle of Antietam,” says Dr. Maberry. “That battle was the bloodiest in American history. It had 80 percent casualties.”

Three Mexican flags captured at the Battle of San Jacinto in 1835, when Sam Houston conquered Mexico’s Santa Anna and won Texas its independence, are in the exhibit. The blood-stained flag from the Guerrero Battalion is a good example of European tapestry with its silk and silver embroidery, explains Dr. Maberry.

“It’s a great contrast to the Texas flags, which were products of frontier women who used what ever they could to create the flags.”

“Texas Flags”, besides having one of the best Civil War flag collections in existence, says Dr. Maberry, includes a “Rough Riders” flag from the Spanish-American War and an American flag which flew from the masthead of the USS Texas during the invasion on Omaha Beach at Normandy during D-Day, June 6, 1944, and the 28-star American flag. The latter was only current for one year when Texas was brought into the Union in 1845. The 29th star was added when Iowa joined the Union the following year.

Also in the exhibit are two flags from the all – black 24th U.S. Infantry. These ‘Buffalo Soldiers’ served on the Texas frontier protecting settlers from Indians, bandits and the elements.

Dr. Maberry was first commissioned by the Texas Historical Commission to start researching “Texas Flags” in 1998. “This is a historian’s dream – to find untouched history. No one had done any work on these flags.” The flags on display were conserved through the efforts of the Texas Historical Commission (THC) when the THC Chair John L. Nau, III learned of the deteriorating condition of many of the state’s historic banners. Fund-raising began earnestly in 1997, through the Friends of the Texas Historical Commission, Inc., to conserve these Texas treasures.

“Texas Flags” first opened at the Museum of Fine Arts in Houston in 2002 and attracted half a million visitors. That was to be the final exhibiting hall but Texas Christian University’s Center for Texas Studies stepped in and financed a four-city traveling exhibit for the flags.

“Flags can ignite an argument or a fist fight,” says Dr. Maberry. “It’s human nature. These are symbols of those conflicts.”

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame is pleased to be the final venue for this once-in-a-lifetime experience. Upon conclusion of the exhibit, these flags will never be seen together again.

The National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame honors and documents the lives of women who have distinguished themselves while exemplifying the pioneer spirit of the American West. Located at 1720 Gendy Street in Fort Worth’s Cultural District, the museum includes interactive exhibit galleries, three theaters, a retail store and a grand rotunda housing the Hall of Fame. The museum is open on Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and on Sundays from noon to 5 p.m. Please visit www.cowgirl.net or call 817/336-4475 or 800/476-FAME (3263) for general information.

Danny “DJ” Latham, Jr.
Media & Marketing
National Cowgirl Museum and Hall of Fame &
Cattle Raisers Museum
817/509-8991 Tel
817/336-2470 Fax
www.cowgirl.net