Houston Museum of Natural Science- The Americas Exhibit

The Houston Museum of Natural Science has an Americas exhibit. The exhibit focuses on all the tribes that lived in the Americas before the Europeans came and conquered. It had items and information on the Toltec, Teotihuacan, Olmec, Mayan, Inca, and Aztec. I was unable to find a curator on the third floor to ask questions about the exhibit, but I did notice some of the items in the collection were donated to HMNS, others were bought in auctions and lastly some items were on loan from other museums or collections.

It gave a lot of insight into the culture of the Native Americans, I was surprised at how civilized they were in certain areas like their irrigation systems. It seems some of the Native Americans advancements were downplayed because they were not seen as a "civilized" society, even though they were. Link to a video I took on Aztec Culture at HMNS http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lmDBoG2VlOA

 



Standing Maya Lord
Maya 600-900 AD

Maya kings were called upon as ruler, warrior and priest. Cities were sometimes linked by marriage, but often went to war with each other. When they fought the battles were led by kings themselves.

Laughing Figure
Remojadas, Gulf Coast, Mexico
200 AD- 900 AD



 

Stone Tools


Native American technology depended on stone tools. They were used to build huge pyramids, cave monuments, and construct houses. Later metal working techniques were introduces from South America.

Inca Road System

Incensario
Esquintla, Guatemala
Teotihuacan 250-550 AD

Native American Shelter

Necklace made with turquoise, coral, and shells

Mayan Painting

Aztec Skeleton Statue
Represents god Tlahiuzcalpantecuhtli

            The Aztecs thought he devoured people out late at night. It was often used to teach children obedience. 

Wedding Jar

The wedding jar was apart of the traditional Native American Wedding. A jar is usually given to the couple a few weeks before the wedding by the grooms parents. The double spouts represents two lives; the bridge between the spouts represents uniting two as one. At one time the jar was smashed after the wedding but later they were kept and cherished.

Me next to a Mayan Statue

Me and my siblings at the exhibit

 Ticket to the Americas exhibit

Shirt I bought I in the gift shop.




 

Glenwood Cemetery Visit

I went to the Glenwood Cemetery this weekend. I was surprised with how beautiful the cemetery grounds were, on the website it says it has a common 19th century romantic feel. It was raining when I went to Glenwood and it added a ominous feeling.

Numerous famous people are buried in the Glenwood Cemetery, including:

1.  Blaffer, R.L. (1876-1942) Co-founder of Humble Oil (now part of Exxon Mobil)
2. Carter, Samuel Fain (1857-1928)Founder of Lumberman’s National Bank (later Second National Bank); built Houston’s tallest building in 1911
3. Gearing, Mary Edna (Mamie) (1872-1946) Instrumental in starting the first kindergarten class in Houston; established the School of Domestic Economy at the University of Texas; first female full professor and department chair at UT. (had to include this one I'm a huge longhorn fan!)
4. Hermann, George (1843-1914)
   Millionaire cattleman, businessman and real estate investor, he left his entire fortune for the benefit of all Houstonians in such institutions as Hermann Hospital, Hermann Park, and Hermann Square at City Hall
5. Hobby, William P. (1878-1964)
   Governor of Texas 1917-1919; publisher of the Houston Post; radio and television executive (KPRC)
6. Hofheinz, Roy (1912-1982) Co-founded the Houston Sports Association, which brought major league baseball to Houston; built the Astrodome and Astrodomain; Harris County Judge; two-term Mayor of Houston
7. Holland, Dr. Margaret Ellen (1847-1921) Houston’s first female physician, established her practice here in 1871 following her graduation from Woman’s Medical College in Chicago and continuing until her death in 1921; recognizing the importance of education, she was a leader in the Public School Art League and the PTA.
8. Hughes, Jr., Howard R. (1905-1976)
   Billionaire and man of legendary accomplishments in business, aviation and film making. He assumed control of the Hughes Tool Company at the age of 19, following his father’s death. In the late 1920s he moved to Hollywood. His best-remembered films are the epic Hell’s Angels (1930) and The Outlaw (1941). During WWII and the decade that followed, he pursued his fascination with aviation, forming Hughes Aviation and receiving government contracts for development and manufacture of aircraft (including the wooden flying boat dubbed “The Spruce Goose”). In 1956 he acquired TWA and pushed it into the jet age. By the late 1960s, he was becoming increasingly reclusive, eventually running his business empire from a penthouse atop the Dessert Inn in Las Vegas. He died on a flight from Acapulco to Houston.
9. Hutcheson, Sr., Hon. Joseph C. (1842-1924) As State Representative, drafted bill that established the University of Texas; served in U.S. Congress 1893-1897
10. Jones, Anson (1798-1858)
    Physician who served as the last President of the Republic of Texas.
11. Lee, Gene Tierney (1920-1991)Hollywood actress best known for the title role in the 1944 film classic Laura; also starred in The Ghost and Mrs. Muir, The Left Hand of God, Advise and Consent; Oscar nomination for Leave Her to Heaven
12. Saunders, Edna (1880-1963) The most successful impresario in the Southwest, in her fifty-year career she brought to Houston such performers as Caruso, Rachmaninoff, Marian Anderson, John Philip Sousa and Will Rogers. Under her auspices, the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and the Metropolitan Opera appeared annually in Houston. The present-day Society for the Performing Arts evolved from her dedication to Houston’s cultural life.
13. Sterling, Ross (1875-1949)
    Governor of Texas 1931-32; publisher of Houston Post-Dispatch; co‑founder of Humble Oil Company (now part of Exxon Mobil)

It did not appear that the cemetery was separated by race or ethnic groups. There were only a couple mausoleums in the cemetery and they were not as eccentric as the ones down in the cemeteries on Galveston. Their was copious amounts of angel statues on Glenwood, most were very peaceful looking but a couple looked intimidating. The grave stones and grounds were in great condition, its hard to believe that some of the headstones were over 100 years old by how good they looked.  Some headstones were done in this white marble looking stone that I have never seen in modern cemeteries.

The Glenwood Cemetery collects some from burials and other fees but most of its money is from donations. The Glenwood Cemetery Historic Preservation Foundation was formed in 1999  The foundation is run by a board of volunteer trustees

• Richard A. Ambrus
• Paul G. Bell
• Catherine Cage Bruns
• William P. Conner
• Robert L. Dabney
• Susan C. Garwood
• William R. Lummis
• Edward K. Neuhaus
• Francita Koelsch Ulmer
• Temple Webber, Jr.
• F. Carrington Weems
• Mary Ann Weems
• Nina P. Wickman
• Joanne Seale Wilson
• Wallace S. Wilson

I do not have any family member buried at Glenwood, but I do think its an organization I will be donating to in the future.