Museum of North Texas History

720 Indiana St.

Wichita Falls, Texas

Jenny to Jet

Wichita Falls Municipal Airport

4000 Armstrong Drive

Wichita Falls, Texas 76305

August 2023

Director's Corner

Hello All!

Slowly roasting in the Texas heat like most of us? While we wait for a break from the weather, plenty of indoor activities have kept staff busy at the Museum. This summer’s After Hours Art walks have brought in large crowds, growing our exposure with the Oh, I didn’t know there was a museum here visitors, making us museum nerds happy. The Wichita Falls Alliance for Arts and Culture’s Regional Museum Network joint exhibit Sunsational Tales: Texas Summers through Time is only up through August 12th, so stop on by to see it before it’s gone. August’s featured artists for Art Alley, Kathy and Jerry Smyers, officially opens on August 3rd, during After Hours Art Walk. This local husband and wife team presents a combination of weavings and sculptures you shouldn’t miss. The art will be on display through the end of August. We’ve been glad to have had several children’s groups on tour this summer as well, hoping to instill a love for all things museum early. If any of the above ‘speak’ to you, give us a call or send us an email, the one thing we always need are volunteers! Sometimes it means hauling tables, sometimes it means helping with groups (no worries, there’s always a script!), and sometimes it is detailed behind the scenes work that is tailor-made for introverts. Think it over, we couldn’t be here without your help!

Nadine

JUST HOW HOT IS IT???

Need a cool activity for a hot summer day? Visit the Museum of North Texas History! Spend some time with Nat's Hats, pilot an airplane in our children's area, and check out the Generations of Play exhibit!

August After Hours Artwalk

Be sure to come by the Museum of North

Texas History

during the August 3rd

After Hours Artwalk.

Sand Beach Summer Memories

Texas summers have always been hot and water has always been cool. Beginning in 1924, one of the places people chose to cool off was Sand Beach.

Built on land bought by the Kiel family in the early 1890s, a stock tank (water pond) grew into a public pool in 1924 called Sand Beach. Why a swimming pool in North Texas was called Sand Beach has always been a question.

Despite rumors that the sand came from Galveston, the sand came from the local area. According to Ruth Bryant, daughter of the owners, William and Lillian Kiel, William hauled loads of sand from the Pease River near Vernon to make the sand beach. After yearly replacing the sand, Kiel rebuilt the pool, using concrete.

Sand Beach played a role in many school, church, and company parties. Newspaper articles report school groups, churches, and businesses taking advantage of Sand Beach’s facilities for events. The Kiels’ added a lunch room and dance floor to entice visitors.

During the 30s, the “discriminating resort” provided swimming and picnicking for those vacationing at home. The owner’s son, James, offered swimming and life-saving classes during the 40s. James had participated on the swim team at Texas A. & M. In 1942, the facilities were renovated and updated. Buses from Wichita Falls made round trips to Sand Beach. Wichita Falls Synchronized Swim Club members performed an aquacade at the pool in 1956.

After managing Sand Beach for a number of years, Gene and Gloria Bond bought Sand Beach in 1972 from the Kiels’ daughter, Ruth Bryant. The Bonds managed Sand Beach, living on-site over the skating rink for 30 years. During the 70s, the pool had four lifeguards and three supervisors to ensure safety. By the way, the admission price in 1975 was one dollar!

Sadly, changing health codes and the age of the facility brought about the closing of the pool in 2002. The Bonds could not afford all the needed upgrades to meet health and safety codes. The pool and the facility remain, bones representing nearly 80 years of splashing and swimming fun.

Trains Continue in the Museum

Thanks to the generosity of MoNTH volunteer, Ron Mauch, the Heart of Downtown Model Train Exhibit will continue at the Museum. The exhibit opens on the second Saturday of the month, through the end of the year.

The next special Saturday is August 12th.

Trains will run during After Hours Art Walk on August 3rd.

REGIONAL MUSEUM NETWORK PRESENTS

SUNSATIONAL TALES

TEXAS SUMMERS THROUGH TIME

SUNSATIONAL TALES: VIP RECEPTION

To celebrate the Regional Museum Network's annual exhibition, the Alliance hosted a special VIP reception at the Museum of North Texas History for staff and board members from the nine museums that have collections in Sunsational Tales: Texas Summers Through Time.

Art Alley - August

Starting Thursday, August 3rd, the Museum of North Texas History presents the third in our artist residence series, John and Kathy Smyers

The Museum of North Texas History welcomes Jerry and Kathy Smyers to Artist Alley for August.

After retiring from a job in accounting, Kathy Smyers bought a small loom and started weaving blankets and tapestries. Born and raised in New Mexico, Kathy loved the colors of New Mexico and Navajo art. She took classes and workshops, learning traditional Navajo techniques

Jerry Smyers began making art in grade school and minored in art in college. After a career in law enforcement, Jerry started making and showing his bronzes and castings. Kathy joined Jerry in showing her art after her retirement.

Their work has been featured at the Chisholm Trail Heritage Center and exhibited at Cowboy True.

August Special Days

Spread the Word!

Please help us spread the word about the Museum of North Texas History. We are very proud of our Museum and want everyone to know about it. When you see our posts on Facebook or Instagram, share and like them.