Nave Museum Buys Building for Second Campus
The Victoria museum purchased a 7,700-square-foot property on North Main Street to expand its education programs.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Openings & Closings
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The Nave Museum bought an existing building at 412 N. Main St. on Oct. 30, three blocks from its original Commercial Street location. The 7,700-square-foot property will become a second campus as the museum's interior space has become cramped for growing education programs.
Why it matters
The original Royston Nave Memorial Building has limited parking that cannot be expanded because of state highway safety rules, and its interior space no longer accommodates growing programming. Establishing a second campus gives the museum room to grow in Victoria.
The museum must raise at least $3 million to convert the 7,700-square-foot North Main property into a second campus over a two-year construction period. The original building will close for one year of renovation once the new campus opens.
The players
Nave Museum
The Victoria, Texas museum named for painter Royston Nave, which houses its collection in the Royston Nave Memorial Building.
The details
The North Main building has housed banks, funeral homes, and title companies since 1959 and includes existing parking spaces. The original Commercial Street building, which opened in 1932, will close for a year of renovation work after the second campus is open.
Timeline
1932: The Royston Nave Memorial Building opened on West Commercial Street.
1959: The North Main building began housing various businesses.
Oct. 30, 2026: The museum bought the 412 N. Main St. building.
Next year (2027): Construction on the second campus is expected to start.
Dec. 1, 2026: The Stella Alesi exhibit 'I Want to Talk About You' ends.
Legacy Expansion
The museum's 1932 Royston Nave Memorial Building has reached its capacity, prompting the purchase of a second campus three blocks away on North Main Street. The move extends the institution beyond the single site it has occupied for nearly a century.
Visitors to the Nave Museum will see the original Commercial Street building close for a year of renovation once the second campus opens. The museum's expanded footprint is intended to accommodate growing education programs for Victoria residents.
The takeaway
Museum expansions like this one often reflect growing community demand for education programming. Residents interested in the project can follow updates from the Nave Museum as fundraising and construction proceed.
What happens next
Construction on the second campus is expected to start next year (2027), and both campuses are projected to be open in years four and five.
Further reading
Explore more Openings & Closings news from Victoria.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Victoria Advocate.
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