Q&A with Marise McDermott // President and CEO // The Witte Museum // San Antonio
What is The Witte Museum’s mission and role in telling the Texas story?
The Witte Museum is where nature, science and culture meet. The Witte focuses on Texas Deep Time; from millions of years ago when dinosaurs lived in what is now called Texas, thousands of years for the People of the Pecos, and hundreds of years for legendary Texas history.
In what ways can groups experience The Witte?
The transformed museum sits on a campus featuring six major gardens and riverside landscapes, including entry gardens at the Feik Family Orientation Pavilion and the Tex Elliott Family South Texas Heritage Entry Court. Groups will experience more than 174,000 square feet of renovated and expanded space and encounter the land, water and sky of Texas through native landscapes, water features and interactive galleries with associated hands-on labs.
What efforts are you taking to inspire deeper, more meaningful experiences for groups at The Witte?
The Witte Museum is a leader in shaping the future of Texas through powerful partnerships that transform engaged communities for a future where all people have an opportunity to create extraordinary lives.
Each Witte gallery speaks in ways that are transforming—visitors experience change. Not coincidently, increasing numbers of corporate and social groups are hosting meetings, receptions, think tanks, dinners and weddings in our galleries—for the stimulus and milestone experiences.