The former McAllen federal post office building, constructed in 1934, now houses MHC. Wednesdays through Fridays, from 1 to 5 p.m. Sundays, 2:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. In the back of the building, there is some limited free parking. There is no cover charge, but donations at the door are welcome.
As part of the 2004 McAllen Centennial celebrations, a festival and dinner gala were hosted to honor the city’s first century of existence. After the success of these celebrations, members of the Centennial committee started talking about creating a historical center for McAllen. (MHC) was established in early 2006 as a non-profit business with a core of Centennial committee members serving as its founding board for this specific purpose.
The McAllen Old-timer’s Club made a memorial donation to MHC in honor of Helen Snider, a club member who had passed away before seeing her vision for the museum realized. Her careful collecting and storage of artifacts was crucial in the MHC’s initial collection of exhibit materials. The McAllen Centennial Committee provided significant funding to help build the center. Rick De Julio, MHC’s founding president, lost his valiant battle with illness, and his family gave substantial memorial gifts to the organization in his honor.
Until a permanent home for the museum could be secured, the founding board was responsible for protecting and caring for the core collection between 2006 and 2008. The board also began working closely with the City of McAllen for funding assistance and launched a successful community fundraising effort to raise the seed money essential to fund the museum’s early activities.
The current MHC may be found in the stunning “La Placita” structure, the former McAllen Post Office that dates back to 1935. It opened to the public in June of 2008. The Museum of Hispanic Culture exists today because to the tireless efforts of the museum’s founding board and the tremendous backing of McAllen and its citizens.
Many exciting new opportunities lie ahead for MHC, and we look forward to using them to fulfill our mission of serving the local community and preserving the city’s rich heritage.
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