The Witte Museum was the city’s first public museum! It was built in 1908, constructed with a bequest from local businessman Alfred G. Witte, and named for his parents. The original museum building, designed by Atlee B. Ayres and Robert M. Ayres, was completed in 1926. The museum has been expanded and remodeled several times since 1926. Three historic structures stand behind the museum near the river=> the Francisco Ruiz House (c. 1760; relocated 1943); the Celso Navarro House (c. 1835; relocated 1947); and the John Twohig House (c. 1841; relocated 1942). These buildings, originally located in downtown San Antonio, were preserved from demolition and relocated to the museum grounds in the 1940s through the efforts of local preservationists.
