Museum of South Texas History moves forward with $800K renovation in Edinburg

The Museum of South Texas History in Edinburg is moving forward with an $800,000 renovation that will expand its usable space with new exhibit galleries, a multipurpose room and additional visitor amenities.

A project registered Thursday with the Texas Department of Licensing and Regulation outlines plans to renovate 5,853 square feet of unfinished shell space at the museum, located at 200 N. Closner Blvd.

The publicly funded project is scheduled for completion by Dec. 31, according to the state filing. The registration lists a June 1 construction start date.

The renovation will convert currently unused interior space into gallery and exhibit areas, a multipurpose room, offices, corridors and new restrooms, according to the filing. No exterior work is included in the project scope.

The Museum of South Texas History, formerly known as the Hidalgo County Historical Museum, preserves and interprets the history of the Rio Grande Valley and northeastern Mexico through permanent and rotating exhibits, educational programming and community events. Located in the historic 1910 Hidalgo County Jail and surrounding campus in downtown Edinburg, the museum serves as one of the region’s premier cultural and historical institutions.

The renovation is expected to provide additional space for exhibitions and programming as the museum continues to expand its educational and community offerings.

The project is being designed by McAllen-based Sam Garcia Architect. Felipe Guerrero is listed as the registered accessibility specialist responsible for ensuring compliance with the Texas Architectural Barriers Act.

The filing does not identify the source of the public funding beyond noting that the project involves public funds on public property.

As of publication, museum officials had not publicly announced the renovation or released additional details about the project’s funding, timeline or future use of the expanded space. The TDLR filing reflects a planned construction project and does not guarantee completion on the proposed schedule.