The Presidential Museum of Odessa, TX

The Presidential Museum was created to commemorate the Presidency of John F. Kennedy after his assassination in Dallas, TX on November 23, 1963. This museum is the only museum in the world which is dedicated to the Office of the Presidency. When you enter the building, located on E. University Avenue, adjacent to the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB) a large rug with the seal of the Office of the President of the United States greets you. This carpet was authorized by the White House for the purpose of display in the Museum.

The Museum entry is a replicated rotunda with 8 pillars hold up the dome. The pillars have plaques of the 8 Presidents who died in office. Starting at the far end of the circle with six State flags displayed and going clockwise around the rotunda are the flags of the original 13 states, in order of their ratifying of the Constitution, ending with the 4 flags of protectorates of the United States. To the right of the entry doors is the table General Dwight D. Eisenhower used to plan the battles of World War II, after France was occupied by Allied troops. A display case across from the Eisenhower table is from the Alamo which holds small exhibits the Museum owns as well as an original land grant document signed by Abraham Lincoln.

A visitor will start their tour by being greeted by George Washington, a statue of his likeness stands to the left of the hall as you enter the exhibit, by pushing a red button he greets you to the museum and tells you about its purpose. There are several display cases of dolls exhibiting replicated dresses worn the First Lady they represent. These display cases are displayed through the exhibit hall. Each President has his own display case, with the numerical designation of when he was in office, a short bio and an artifact which is representative of him. Most of the artifacts are replicas.

Display tables and banners designate the various periods of the development of the United States with the corresponding Presidents who served during that era of American history. At the end of the exhibit hall there is a copper engraving of the Declaration of Independence and a copy of the Constitution of the United States framed and on easel.

In the library, across the rotunda from the exhibit hall are books related to the Office of the Presidency of the United States. Hanging from the walls near the ceiling are portraits of each President. On the top of the bookshelves are various smaller objects of interest. One shelf contains wood carvings of most of the Presidents. Behind that is a bobble head collection of most of the Presidents. One another bookshelf is a bottle collection with most of the Presidents likeness embossed in the glass and on another bookshelf is jigsaw puzzle replicas of the White House and the Congress building.

The Presidential Museum, like most museum's requires funding to remain open. This one does not have a benefactor nor a sustaining fund to keep it open. It remains open through State grants and private donations. In my opinion, after touring this museum, it would be a shame if it were allowed to be either swallowed up by UTPB, and public access then restricted, or closed with its artifacts distributed to who knows where to defray its debt.

The Globe Theater of Odessa, TX

One of the things which has stuck me as I have lived in various communities is that its natives do not attend or even bother to visit the many sites which help create the character of a community. I have lived in Odessa and have only visited the Meteor Crater. Before I can venture outside of my new hometown, I must rectify that oversight, so the next few posts will be dedicated to visiting and photographing those sites which are open to the public and help make Odessa a rich experience to any curious traveler.

The Globe Theater of Odessa, TX is an exact replica of “the original Globe Theater built in 1599 on the Thames River in London, England” (quoted from the 2011 Festival Season brochure) This replica theater and its adjacent Anne Hathaway House sits next to Odessa College. The Drama and Music Departments supply the actors, instructors, and musicians required to produce its Shakespearean plays; as well as other plays produced during each season.

To date, The Globe Theater of Odessa is in its 43^rd year of production and has been in existence 53 years. They are in the middle of a fund raising campaign to sustain themselves for the next 50 years and beyond. They produce other plays besides Shakespearean plays such as a feature called New Plays and New Players series which is in their 8^th year of production. They also present an annual Patriotic play titled Happy Brithday USA! Which appropriately occurs around the 4^th of July.

The inside of the Globe Theater of Odessa is also a replica of the interior of the original Globe of London, England. It seats 410 patrons in both mezzanine and the balcony. The interior is constructed of wood and plaster and the acoustics are perfect. The brochure quoted above touts with 

with an “1800 square foot stage it thrusts into the audience to create an intimate actor-audience relationship as it was in Shakespeare’s day. . .(f)rom the balconies, the viewer has an unobstructed view of the entire stage at a 40 degree angle.” (ibid) The interior appointments attempt to re-create the theater of old down to London dock lanterns and British Red carpets and upholstered seats.

This is Odessa's second and oldest replica the city boasts, the other the Stonehenge on the campus of the University of Texas of the Permian Basin (UTPB). But that is for another post.

Initial Thoughts

As I sit at my computer, thinking what I want to say in my initial posting, I realize I am beginning a new adventure in blogging.  I have had previous blogs but they were subject specific.  I plan for this blog to be more general and to relate what I am currently doing.  The weather is becoming warmer, which means I will be riding in ever increasing distances from my home and exploring the land around me.  I will share my thoughts and photographs I take on those excursions, and perhaps while doing so, you, dear reader, will experience something which will cause you to want to get outside yourself and explore also.