HNS 2023 was busy with sessions from dawn to dusk. I was so absorbed with greeting old writing friends and meeting new ones that I only took these pictures on June 10th (the day of the book festival) and 11th (actually my birthday, the day after the conference, when I visited the Briscoe Western Art Museum before flying home). I did get to take a riverboat cruise and go on an HNS tour of the Alamo, too, but I was too busy listening to the tour and then chatting with my fellow authors to bother with pictures. I still have close to 80 hours of recorded classes (so many going on at once) to listen to in the next couple of months, sometime, somehow! BTW, I've always considered Savannah about as hot as it gets, but nope--San Antonio was scorchin'! Also... the museum confirmed that Texas is the West, not the South :). They had a whole display of 'What does the West mean for you?'
In love with this sculptor, Fritz White, just based on this phenomenal piece, plus the Riverman (following).
Oddly few Spanish/Mexican artifacts there (most were directly associated with the Alamo siege), almost as if Texas history went straight from the Native Americans to the cowboys! But there was this amazing ceremonial saddle, which was attributed as belonging to Pancho Villa. I particularly love the medallion on the saddle horn, which has the Mexican eagle with a snake in its mouth. But here's a picture of the Spanish Governor's mansion (built from 1722 until about 1749). They were there for quite some time before the USA took Texas from Mexico!
The Healer by John Coleman
Neat sculptures of the Buffalo Nickel
Based on the renowned healing powers of explorer Cabeza de Vaca and a Moroccan slave
Colonel Travis boldly drawing the line in the sand. He reportedly declared 'Come and take it!' to the Spanish, regarding the Alamo. They did. He died. But it made great US propaganda for later, along with 'Remember the Alamo!'
Life-size basket dancers in front of the Briscoe.
Canary Islanders were the first European settlers with families in San Antonio.
Gorgeous courthouse and fountain
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