Original Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Arrives at the Bullock Museum as Part of a New Focus Exhibition

FEBRUARY 20, 2024 (AUSTIN, TX) — The Bullock Museum is proud to announce a special focus exhibition that delves into the profound historical significance of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, which marked the formal conclusion of the U.S.-Mexico War on February 2, 1848. Legacies of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo is a bilingual exhibition, presented in both English and Spanish.

“Living in the Southwest, we are surrounded by the impacts of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo everyday,” said Kathryn Siefker, Senior Curator at the Bullock Museum. “This exhibition is an opportunity to better understand the historical events that shaped the borderlands and the Treaty’s impact on the people of the region.”

The Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo was the result of approximately 40 years of borderlands tension involving Tribal Nations, Mexico, Spain, Texas, and the United States. The Treaty established the U.S.-Mexico border at the Rio Grande, a natural boundary that continues to separate the two nations to this day. Notably, it ceded more than half of Mexico's northernmost lands to the United States, significantly altering the geopolitical landscape of the region.

Legacies of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo, located in the Statehood Gallery on the second floor of the Texas History Galleries, features 29 artifacts exploring the short-term and long-term impacts of the Treaty on Texas, the United States, Mexico, and Tribal Nations. Select articles from the Treaty itself are on loan from the National Archives and Records Administration in Washington, D.C. and speak to a wide variety of concerns addressed by the Treaty, from troop logistics to citizenship. The handwritten pages of Articles III, VIII, and X will rotate through the exhibit, providing visitors with a unique opportunity to engage with this important piece of history.

Each artifact in the exhibition works to showcase the stories of those affected by the signing of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo. A train lantern, branding irons, and citrus farming brochures speak to the process of Mexican land loss and the impact it had on Mexican citizens who became Americans overnight after the signing of the Treaty. A treaty stone, Comanche lance, and a set of watercolors bring focus to the Tribal Nations that, though not included in the writing or signing of the Treaty, were significantly impacted by its ratification. Furthermore, two contemporary artworks highlight the long-term cultural impacts of the Treaty, including the formation of the Mexican American identity.

Look for programs related to the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo throughout the run of the exhibition. Details will be announced at TheStoryofTexas.com/calendar.

Legacies of the Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo will be on view at the Bullock Museum through February 16, 2025. For more information, visit TheStoryofTexas.com.

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Treaty of Guadalupe Hidalgo Courtesy, National Archives & Records Administration, Washington, D. C.

The Bullock Museum, a division of the Texas State Preservation Board, is funded by Museum members, donors, and patrons, the Texas State History Museum Foundation, and the State of Texas.

 

ABOUT THE BULLOCK MUSEUM

The Bullock Texas State History Museum, a division of the State Preservation Board and an accredited institution of the American Alliance of Museums, illuminates and celebrates Texas history, people, and culture. With dynamic, award-winning exhibitions, educational programming for all ages, and an IMAX® theater with one of the largest screens in Texas, the Museum collaborates with more than 700 museums, libraries, archives and individuals across the world to bring the Story of Texas to life.

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​​The Bullock Texas State History Museum, a division of the State Preservation Board and an accredited institution of the American Alliance of Museums, creates experiences that educate, engage, and encourage a deeper understanding of Texas. With dynamic, award-winning exhibitions that illuminate Texas history, people, and culture, educational programming for all ages, and an IMAX® theater with a screen the size of Texas, the Museum collaborates with more than 700 museums, libraries, archives, organizations, and individuals across the world to bring the Story of Texas to life. For more information, visit www.TheStoryofTexas.com or call (866)369-7108.