Bullock Museum in Austin makes Texas history displays fully bilingual, sets new standards for future exhibits

The Bullock Museum, which showcases state history, now offers fully bilingual displays as part of a five-year effort to make 16,000 years of Texas history accessible to both English- and Spanish-speaking visitors. 

“Creating bilingual experiences has been a key element in strengthening and respecting the positive and thoughtful interactions our Spanish-speaking visitors are able to have with their families during their visits,” said Margaret Koch, director of the Bullock Museum, in a press release.

Nearly one in three Texas residents speak Spanish at home. That’s about 28.5% of Texas’ population, according to the U.S Census Bureau. The Latino community continues to grow in the Lone Star State and recently surpassed non-Hispanic whites as the majority. 

Along with the translation of exhibits, the museum established new standards to ensure consistency and accessibility for future generations. The Bullock also incorporated more diverse perspectives in the displays to make information relatable to its wider audience. 

Visitors can now also receive the museum’s informational guide in Spanish and expect bilingual displays in all future special exhibitions developed by the museum. Bilingual exhibitions currently on display include “Legacies of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo.”  The Chicano exhibition “Carros y Cultura: Lowriding Legacies in Texas” opens May 5. 

IF YOU GO: 

What: Bullock Museum 

When: Monday through Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. with the exception of certain holidays. 

Learn more: Visit the museum’s site for additional details here.