Briscoe Western Art Museum

It has been years since I was in this building. Glad my wife and I were able to visit on free locals day and enjoy some of the fine arts pieces and such rich history we have here in our own back yard of San Antonio. Glad that they are expanding the exhibits and look foward to new pieces that are brought in the feature.

Amazing collection of Western Art arranged by theme in various rooms and buildings. There's a parking garage across the street, so it's possible to park very close to the museum to avoid walking long distances to reach the site. Friendly staff with a scrupulously clean facility and nice bathrooms that have diaper changing tables. There's also a gift shop with some interesting items. The model of the Alamo battle that's extremely impressive as well as the outstanding sculptures. Right now there is a temporary exhibit featuring maps of Texas and the West. One of the maps displayed areas controlled by various Mexican leaders during the 1910 revolution.

We thoroughly enjoy our trips to the Briscoe Museum. It is housed in a beautiful old building next to Riverwalk. The outdoor area is lovely although parking downtown is never easy. So it's worth it to stay awhile and go on a walk after the museum or enjoy a nearby restaurant to make the aggravation worthwhile. The Briscoe has wonderful family events that I highly recommend. The staff and volunteers are friendly and kind.

Visited mid afternoon on a weekday and had no crowds at all. Really doesn't matter if you are into "Western" art specifically or not. The pieces and exhibits were interesting and visually stunning. Outdoor sculpture garden is free and that alone is worth stopping in to see. Adjacent to one of the River Walk spurs do very easy to make it a past of your downtown visit.

It's definitely a place to visit! It's a little smaller than I thought. But it has some beautiful art! It's right off the Riverwalk also so is great alone or for a day full of events. Great for Texas history.

First visit and I am a huge fan! Beautiful art pieces. Sculptures paintings saddles! Perfect size collection to really enjoy and savor the work without overwhelming. I would strongly recommend.

Great museum for history of the west. A great verity of history collections. We loved the school award winning entries on display featuring many different mediums to enjoy.

This was one of my favorite places I went when I visited. You start on the third floor and work your way down. The whole place tells a story. I want to go back when I visit again.

The Briscoe Western Art Museum is a great and intimate museum in the heart of downtown San Antonio :) ! The staff is super friendly and helpful, and is willing to speak with you regarding anything that has to do with western art. If you really love western art and history, and especially would like to learn more about Texas history, this is a fantastic place to visit :) ! The artwork varies from unique paintings, sculptures, artifacts and photos :) ! There also happened to be a great talk going on about Texas mapping history :D ! I also happened to visit here during the holidays :) ! So both the inside and outside of the museum were beautifully decorated for the holiday season :D ! I have visited a lot of well-known museums in the United States. And although this one is not a huge name nationwide, I liked the fact that it was small to medium-size that it made it easy and stress-free for me to get around and enjoy the various art exhibits :) ! I like visiting all kinds of museums. But for sure, it definitely is meaningful to visit these smaller museums as well because they do feel much more personal and engaging, compared to larger museums that have so many tourists that it can get overwhelming.

My wife and I love exploring the area and today we took a trip to the Briscoe Western Art Museum with two other friends who grow up in San Antonio. I have visited many Museums such as the Huntington Library, the Getty and the Gene Audrey Western Museum. We really enjoyed ourselves. The museum is a perfect size, not too big and not too small. There is a nice mix of what is on display, from an excellent collection of spurs, paintings, and artifacts. My favorites were the paintings. Most museums have very old famous painting, but the Briscoe has a large number of paintings which have been painted recently. Now don't get me wrong, Blue Boy at the Huntington is an amazing painting but the paintings at the Briscoe were so vivid and captivating. I wish I could have purchased at least a dozen of them. The colors were bright, which made me wonder if this is what it would have been like looking at a Van Gouh a year after it was painted? Even though there were contemporary painting, the subject matter was distinctly western capturing a style unlike anything I have seen before. The staff was super friendly and very helpful. For instance, we asked what's the best way to go through the museum. Start one the 3rd floor and work your way down. We highly recommend making a day of it. If you get hungry, take a break and come back. If your budget is tight, the first Sunday is open the Bexar county residence for free. Enjoy the experience.

We went to the river walk and came across this Lottie museum with cool statues and pictures . While we didn't do the entire museum we did some of the museum and like the information given about each piece.

The staff was incredibly helpful. I liked the exits that they had there. The admission is a little bit steep though. I always learn so much here. I it's very fascinating.

This has been on my to do list for a while. Beautiful and interesting western museum! It houses many sculptures, artifacts and paintings. It is 3 stories and requires a minimum of 1-2 hours to explore. I will definitely visit again and partake in the events held here.

A beautiful and well-crafted exhibition of Western art and culture! The museum has three floors with designated sections displaying buckaroo, vaquero, western, indigenous, and women's art. The timeline of art is vast. There are some ancient pieces and some very modern ones as well. If interested, there is also a small library at the bottom level! The gift shop sells products from many local artisans and has something for everyone. This is an affordable must-visit spot for art lovers and history buffs alike!

If you are visiting San Antonio, stop by the Briscoe Western Museum for a beautiful experience in the history of the Old West. Roy Rogers and Poncho Villa's saddles, bronze Native American statuary, spurs, a stagecoach, windmill, Chuck wagon, and influences of Spanish, American, Mexican, Tejano, and Indigenous history will inform and delight. The battle of the Alamo is recreated in miniature with highlights of the major figures like Crockett, Bowie, Sam, and Santa Anna. The intricate ceiling décor is worth the visit, with representations of the buffalo nickel coin surrounding the perimeter. Beautiful collection of Western history!

Wonderful collection and a must see when in San Antonio! The art shares a real sense of life when Texas was still a frontier and the clash of cultures between the natives and Europeans.

Nice museum on the Riverwalk! 3 stories with a gift shop offering books and other items. Lots of history and Stagecoach replica or movie prop as well as a small library with historical books on our city. Staff is very nice and helpful. Clean and comfortable with a large space for movie showings. Check calendar for movie scheduled. Nice garden area for private events as well. I saw lights on the trees, but I'm not sure if it's used at night for private parties. It's right by LA Villita, so it is close to the Arneson River theatre as well. We received free popcorn and drinks for movie screening.

This is such a beautiful and unique museum. I have come here several times now and I always enjoy everything displayed. It's a beautiful thing how this place changes it up and showcases various art styles and artist. The staff are always very knowledgeable and kind. What a great place to spend a couple hours out of the day and enjoy the point of view from others.

I have walked past this museum but never gone in to see the exhibits. It was a pleasant surprise. The museum was very clean and well laid out. The exhibits were very informative and some had interactive activities with audio.

One of my favorite places to visit in the city. You will be emerged into history, art, and an enlightening experience. The collectors are beautifully displayed and I love the location and ambiance. On this day I got to paint and mini canvas of a calavara with my mom. I love the memories at this museum.

The Briscoe is a lovely museum in downtown San Antonio. They had some very interesting pieces. They had not only art medias like paintings and sculptures, but also historical items that were very impressive. I had hoped to see the Mark Maggiori painting donated to the museum by the artist, as his landscape paintings are so breathtaking. However, they are using it for an exhibition in October. So I will be returning! The Briscoe has a good-sized gift shop, and they did have some prints. But I would love to see more. Whether just postcards, general prints, or Giclées. :)

It took awhile, but I finally got to see this gem. It was well worth the wait with so much beautiful art and so much excellent information. I could probably spend the whole day here but had to get the visit done in about 3 hours. The paintings (both classic and contemporary) and the many artifacts are fascinating. And the interactive Alamo exhibit is awesome. It's a great way to explore the history of the American West and often features special exhibits that highlight the work of different artists.

The museum is beautiful and has a lot of different western themed art exhibits to see. My dad loves art and artifacts, so we spent a few hours here. They have a new exhibit that focuses on native american art and they have some fun activities where you can answer questions or try drawing a picture yourself. We participated in the fun free painting activity that they had downstairs. I believe they have different free activies for kids and adults every month. The only downfall is that the restrooms were not easily accessible on the upper floors and we found ourselves running around trying to find the restroom for my elder father. I will also mention that affordable parking downtown can be hard to find as well.

Impressive museum with quite a bit of history and an amazing sculpture garden. Right on the Riverwalk too. I went on the National Day of the Cowboy which offered free admission and countless activities for kids/families, food, and music. There was even a meet and greet with Miss Texas Teen Rodeo. So impressed with the quality of art and displays in the museum, but also the quality of this event! I so badly wished there was something like this when I was a kid. All the crafts, games, and activities were thoughtfully planned and fun. If you are a parent, this should be on your calendar every year!

I had never heard of this museum but will be going back again. A museum with such beautiful art & design. They have showcases and people who give you tours and the tours are so well done. The staff is so sweet and they give you so much information and details when you ask something. The parking is a tiny bit hard since it's downtown but that's usually anywhere downtown. The museum also is next to the river walk so when done you can go walk around the river walk too!

This museum is lovely and unique! It has beautiful southwest artwork along with cowboy culture and Native American work in different mediums. The building is cool and the exterior is lovely as well. The workers are informative and friendly. The special exhibit we visited was really cool. I like that they have special events going on as well!

I had the most peaceful date by myself here!!! The museum is very very well kept, the artwork is gorgeous and informative. Their special exhibit (survival of the fittest) is very interesting to see, I really enjoyed seeing the art work focus on the animals. As a conservation biologist, I WISH they would have incorporated more education into the exhibit but it was still very cool!! I absolutely loved the statues and the telephone on the 3rd floor!!! (You'll have to visit to find out what it plays-listen to the whole thing. it makes me teary eyed every time I listen) They also offer discounts to college students, military ect ect. Highly highly recommended visiting for a relaxing activity downtown.

Briscoe Western Art Museum is such a wonderful museum and I always have a great time when I visit. I have been twice, and the building is nice with very knowledgeable and helpful staff, and what seems to be rotating exhibits that are always so wonderful to view. Sometimes this museum has events as well so be sure to check out whether they have fun events going on but this place is definitely worth checking out and I will continue to support it, I hope the community will give their support as well and stop by for a visit!

Most recently went to the Briscoe for the Wild West Wildlife event. I love when they host these free community days that are perfect for kids and families. The museum is right along the riverwalk on Market and accessible from both the river and street. The Briscoe is interesting with frequent new exhibits, guest speakers, and really well executed events. The museum and all 3 floors are easily navigable and ADA friendly with ramps and elevators. The volunteers here are friendly, knowledgeable, and great with kids. I love the educational programs they put on and support local programs with San Antonio parks, TX artists, etc.

Want to learn more about The West? The Briscoe Western Art has an amazing collection of drawings, paintings and sculptures that share the stories of the cowboy, the vaquero, Native Americans and the Western landscapes. Visit the outdoor sculpture garden nestled on the banks of the San Antonio River Walk for free or tour the museum's main building which served as San Antonio's original public library for half a century with an admission ticket or using a reciprocal admission.

Superb museum on the Riverwalk in San Antonio. The focus, of course, is on western art and culture. You will see classic examples but there is also an emphasis on contemporary western works. The Briscoe houses an impressive blend of classic and modern western art displayed in a beautiful building, with lovely outdoor space. A solid take.

We made it out for Free Locals Day the first Sunday of the month and so glad we did! It's a hidden gem in the heart of downtown SA. Make sure to bring proof of residency- utility bill, as you'll need it to check in at the kiosk. We then received a friendly greeting and was given the layout of the museum. One area of the museum was under construction, but nevertheless, there was plenty to see. The size of the museum is perfect, not expansive and overwhelming. I had never been exposed to Western Art before , and it was an interesting eye opening museum. Many oil paintings, sculptures, a large size stagecoach, a section called Women of the West, an outdoor area of large bronze sculptures, and my absolute fave exhibit Thomas D. Mangelsen - A Life in the Wild. An absolute amazing photographer- this exhibit is a must see!! A wildlife photographer dedicated to capturing moments. Each photograph is a piece of art. We had a fabulous time. Spent approx 90 min inside and outside. Check it out!

Team here for a yelp elite event and was very happy that I did. My wife and I were probably last in this building in high school when this was the circus museum. It has undergone some big changes and is a first class facility. I recommend that you take the opportunity to see this . Rich Texas culture and western art that is first class and inspirational at times. There is even a Whataburger in the same building as the parking garage that is across the street if you were looking for a quick meal or snack. LOL!

Superb! A warm and friendly welcome from beginning to end. Nice setting and environment, I love how well structured the displays are and that it's not too much noise. You can learn more about the artists and animals.

A great mix of paintings, sculptures, and artifacts--something for everyone. Well worth the time.

This museum is truly a gem. Right in the heart of downtown San Antonio, the Briscoe showcases the life of the Old West. Beautiful bronze sculptured and Western painting color the rooms and walls. It's a traditional museum with some interactivity. We visited on the National Day of the Cowboy/Cowgirl. Free admittance, plenty of activities for kids and adults. My kids listened to Antoinette Lakey read her story Fearless Mary. On the third floor area tables were set for kids to make their own brand on a silver screen, make braids, clay cowboy sculptures and listen to cowboys who worked with leather, clay, and other activities. It kept the kids off their devices. On the river level there was a toy shooting gallery, a live chuckwagon, The museum is loaded with memorabilia from the past (long and recent). Truly a beautiful museum with amazing art inside. Easily could spend two or three hours in this place, despite its small size. The event for National Day of the Cowboy was set for all day

The exhibits are excellent and convey the passion of the west, especially from the point of view of the native Americans seeing their land overrun. When we were there, the museum had an interactive room where questions were posed to the viewer that made us consider aspects of the painting or sculpture we might not have considered. The highlite for me, which happens to be free, is the outdoor sculpture garden. It has marvelous pieces. This is a must see museum right on the Riverwalk!

The Briscoe Western Art Museum is an oasis in the desert, and it's adjacent to the famous San Antonio Riverwalk. The temperature was hot, and our son, Sadiq M., the newly minted Airman, wanted to cool down and experience a culture other than military culture. So, We decided to visit Briscoe on our way to our hotel, and we are happy we did. Before entering, our daughter, a high school senior, started grumbling saying museums were boring. More importantly, she left Briscoe singing its praise for the air conditioning and the Art. The Briscoe was 100% satisfying to us all. They offer the experience without cost to Airmen and their families. We love it, and I am sure you will love it too. When you visit, tell them Omar sent you.

I love the Briscoe Western Art Museum because it is a unique collection of beautiful art reflective of the area. From the sculptures in the sculpture garden to the ornate saddles decorated with silver, this museum is a beautiful display of western pieces. This is a great museum to visit if you are local or visiting San Antonio to learn about culture and history right on the Riverwalk.

This museum is underrated. I visited for the first time a few weeks ago and was impressed with how beautiful the building is and all the art pieces it carries. The Briscoe Western Art Museum is a hidden gem; you can find paintings/sculptors of cowboys, Native Americans, and even historical pieces in western American history, from Santa Anna's sword to Pancho Villa's saddle. Every so often, the museum changes its exhibitions and has weekend events. They also have movie nights every Sunday for their Summer Film Series, and once a month, you can visit it for free on the first Sunday of each month!

We came here during a free day when they were having cool events for kids. It was a fun, welcoming environment and we had a great time! We also got to walk through the museum and see all the cool exhibits. It was also nice and fresh in here which was much needed during the hot summer day we went. Lol. The only downside was the parking. We parked in the riverbend parking garage and it was $25.

We were there in 2017. Always recommend to others when they go to San Antonio. Everything there is so interesting!

Well this was a wonderful experience!!! I was super impressed by the volume and quality of the exhibits in this gem. We stopped in for locals day, which if anyone else is interested is the first Sunday of every month and it is free admission, and they also host a free stem event during the day too for kids and teens . If you live in town or are just visiting I would definitely stop in. There are beautiful pieces of art ranging from sculptures, saddles, clothes, photographs and paintings. The artifacts were wonderfully displayed and many of them so well preserved. And I will top it with the best diorama of The Alamo in town!!! My kids, better half and myself really enjoyed all of the exhibits inside, outside and on rotation. Great for locals, visitor, families with kids, or even a date.

Very interesting "Day of the Cowboy Event". Museum was free to the public, this day. Great art exhibit, the Spurs exhibited would be more interesting, if the maker was known. Enjoyed interacting with the artist at this event.

I love museums. I love history. This gave me a bit of both plus art! Much like the other reviews suggest start on the third floor, go to the second, take the sky bridge to the special exhibit, come back, go to the first. Be sure to see the two galleries behind the front desk. They're tucked out of sight so I wonder if people miss them as they were the only two areas I didn't see anyone else there. The Briscoe has a little of everything but all centered around the old West. The historical saddles were very cool. The special exhibit on the history of Westerns was marvelous. I found myself there for thirty minutes alone. It provided a solid context on historical events and how Westerns were influenced and changed over time. I also was in love with the bronze sculptures. They were incredible. I couldn't get over the detail each painstakingly had. The emotion was so well captured! There's an outside sculpture park as well which I highly recommend taking the time to explore. While the museum is rather small I spent easily a couple hours here. I never felt rushed and there was so much to see and read. I was pleasantly pleased for my visit here.

I am so glad we went here. What a great, fun little museum. I didn't know I was such a big fan of western art until I saw what was in this museum. And there was even a place to dress up in western gear and take fun pictures. All that and a statue courtyard and the people who worked there really knew their stuff.

I found this museum by accident while traversing the River Walk a couple of weeks ago and escaped inside to beat the heat on a blistering August weekday. A $12 adult admission price and 3 levels intrigued me to check it out. Unfortunately, their water fountains were turned off due to Covid so I wasn't able to wet my whistle. This museum has paintings, sculptures, statues and memorabilia all of course in a Western theme. They had several ornate horse saddles displayed with the most prominent one coming from TV and movie star Roy Rodgers. There was also a very detailed and interesting diorama of The Siege of The Alamo along with a full size replica of a Wells Fargo stagecoach. They also have a small gift shop. Stairs and the elevator are for use to go through the 3 stories. I would budget about 1 hour to spend here. Even though the museum is on 3 levels it is not very big. My recommendation is to start on the 3rd floor and work your way down. I give it a 3 score meaning it was a good museum but it didn't wow me in particular. However, I'm glad I visited it. If Western themed art and artifacts are your thing come check it out. I'm not sure how parking works here or if they validate.

I really wish that somewhere on the website was mentioned that this establishment doesn't like children...I wouldn't have come. Today I did the free locals day. I came with my almost two year old ready for a nap strapped on to my back. I assumed she'd get some rest while I could enjoy the museum. 1. Instead of checking us in we were diverted to a QR code to get checked in, so I stood in a group of people also trying to do the same while the 3 desk attendants chatted with the security guard. 2. I was then told that I could not wear my daughter on my back that I could bump into something....that I could wear her in front or more preferably walk on her own I tried to explain that she's going to nap and likes sleeping on my back. They said no and even suggested I come back later when she's not tired...so I let my over tired toddler walk the museum. 3. I get to an exhibit upstairs and im immediately approached by the security guard telling me that we aren't allowed to have water in the museum. I tell him I don't have any water, but he continues to question me and gestures to my umbrella...so I tell him it's an umbrella and he apologizes but then continues to let me know how we can't have any food or drinks and I still don't have either... 4. At the end of our visit the lady that told me I couldn't wear my daughter asked me how the museum was and I responded honestly saying "eh not great when my daughter just wanted to touch everything so I didn't get to look at anything" the lady physically cringed at the thought of my daughter touching everything...which never would have happened if we just let her nap on my back So needless to say I won't ever be back, and I would never suggest this to anyone especially if they have kids. I work in tourism downtown and i hope no one with kids ever has to deal with how victimized I felt for having a kid.

Really enjoyed the Western Art Museum. it had all kinds of different types of art with lots of history. If you enjoy Texas and Mexico history this is a great Museum. The facilities were very clean and people at the museum were very friendly and assisted us in everything that we need it. I would recommend this museum to anyone.

An excellent collection of Western Art that far exceeds many exhibitions I've seen before, such as the Gene Autry Museum of Western Heritage in Los Angeles. I went in expecting to find noteworthy displays of bronze statues and oil paintings. To my surprise, the real gems here are the Western tack collections - a whole wall is dedicated to spurs alone! The silver and leatherwork on the custom parade saddles (one supposedly belonging to Pancho Villa!) are a delight to behold. Not sure this would hold the kiddies' attention but for lovers of art and the American West, this is a gold mine of culture. Highly recommended. Pro Tip: As for parking, I would use the Riverbend Parking Garage at Presa / Commerce. Depending on which elevator set you take down to the first floor, the Briscoe will either be on the corner and around the corner.

If your a tourist you need to take a tour and get acquainted by the history of how San Antonio came to be. He museum consists of three floors showcasing cool artifacts of the Mexican war and San Antonio's role as a city. The galleries and displays give a glimpse of the 1700-1800 time periods in Texas; I found it quite fascinating. Hard to believe Texas almost didn't become a part of the US. It's mandatory all tourists visit here. Get yourself educated. Learn about one of the most historic cities in the lone star state!

Okay. Nothing much here. Staff wasn't very welcoming . I'm quite sure I won't return, nor recommend. In fact, my recommendation is to keep on going right past this little museum. I did like the library, with books about Texas and the area. Also board games to pass time and get in out of the heat.

I recommend this museum to locals and visitors! It's central to the riverwalk and a perfect spot to cool down at, if you are downtown in the summer. The Still in the saddle exhibit was very cool to see, lots of vintage posters and interesting facts posted. Admission is affordable for an entire family and they also have locals' day mentioned on their IG. The nearest parking is across the street at Riverbend.

This was a pretty cool visit. First of all, free for locals day. Who doesn't like FREE?!?! Secondly, the art was stunning. To see the women of the west and representation of black cowboys and Native Americans made me smile. One day here was NOT enough. Lastly, and most importantly, I was there with my handsome husband. Fantastic visit. Top notch fun. We will return.

We happened to be strolling down the Riverwalk to eat at a restaurant and noticed this sign by the Briscoe Art Museum, "Every Tuesday Night free admission from 4-9 pm. We knew what we were going to do after our meal, which turned out to be average, the Briscoe was amazing...we've been before and loved it. If you love western/Texas art and history....this is the place to feed that need....shouldn't have talked about food....

I only wished we had more time to explore the Briscoe, but we arrived just twenty minutes before they closed. The Briscoe is one of those rare museums that captures it subject and is vast in its collection. It has famous sculptures, paintings and physical artifacts of the old west. But it has preserved many import pieces from early Texas Republic, Coahuila y Tejas state and some really cool stuff like Santa Ana's sword and Pancho Villa saddle. Only wished we had more time here!

This was a great free option for our family (military). It's right on the river walk so we got to enjoy the scenery on our way there. The staff was friendly and very knowledgeable about the art and history that is living there. Tons of beautiful art and artifacts. Everything my husband and I looked at, stunned us. I could have spent all day in there if I could. If you can, really take the time to read where things are from or the stories behind them because I can guarantee you that some of them will shock you. The facility is clean, quiet, and definitely cold which was nice to get out of the heat. If you're downtown and looking for an interesting spot, please stop here. It's worth it.