Witte Museum Exhibit Explores Texas Food History

The San Antonio museum features a new exhibit exploring 1,300 years of regional culinary traditions.

Updated on Oct. 25, 2026 in Food and Drink

Screen-print poster illustration of a ceramic jar and cast-iron skillet, representing the long history of Texas culinary traditions. — The Witte Museum in San Antonio is showcasing Texas culinary history in its new exhibit, Gather Round the Table: Texas Food Traditions. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Do you believe museum exhibits effectively capture the real culinary traditions of your local community?

The Witte Museum in San Antonio is currently hosting Gather Round the Table: Texas Food Traditions, an exhibit that chronicles the states culinary evolution. Spanning 5,500 square feet, the display uses artifacts and interactive stations to highlight local food history.

Why it matters

The exhibit aims to provide an accessible way for visitors to consider the broader history and culture of Texas through the lens of its diverse foodways. By engaging with these traditions, the museum offers a look at how past practices continue to shape the regional identity.

The exhibit occupies 5,500 square feet of gallery space and covers 1,300 years of history. A team of 80 people built the display over five months, which includes six interactive food debates and a 10-foot chicken on a stick replica.

The players

Witte Museum

This San Antonio institution focuses on the natural history, science, and heritage of Texas.

Raymond H. Lopez

He is the founder of Ray's Drive Inn, a staple of the local San Antonio culinary scene.

The details

Visitors can engage with culinary history through videos, photographs, and shadow boxes that illustrate how food has evolved in Texas. The interactive portion allows guests to vote on six different food debates by placing chips into acrylic tubes.

The historical scope of the exhibit begins in 700 A.D. with Caddo corn cultivation.
Ray's Drive Inn was established by Raymond H. Lopez in 1956.
Texas designated chili con carne as its official state dish in 1977.
Henry's Puffy Tacos began operations in 1978.
The current exhibit is scheduled to remain open through February 7, 2027.

Industry Dynamics

This exhibit follows a pattern set by the 1977 official designation of chili con carne as the state dish, reinforcing regional pride. It reflects a growing trend in museums using interactive technology to bridge the gap between academic history and public entertainment.

Visitors can access the exhibit at the Witte Museum in San Antonio daily during regular operating hours. The interactive displays are designed for public participation, allowing attendees to vote on regional food debates as they walk through the gallery.

The takeaway

Understanding the history of iconic regional staples can offer deep insights into how cultural traditions are formed over centuries. Residents can visit the Witte Museum to experience these history lessons firsthand through the end of the exhibit's run in 2027.