The museum works with more than 100 Texas and national historical organizations and private individuals to bring in artifacts that will complement the exhibits' themes, Ms. Brand said. The public will be allowed access to more than 500 historical organizations and sites on computers in an admission-free area of the museum. They're highly visible from all levels in the open central area. Even before visitors enter the museum, they're greeted with history. The topics are explored within the museum and are broken down into themes on each of the three floors.
Exhibits are in creative and generally realistic settings.
Flooring in some areas evokes the terrain of the exhibit. Giant digitally manipulated photos of Texas serve as backdrops for some exhibits. One image of the Texas coast towers over the La Salle shipwreck artifacts. Speaking of La Salle's ship, the museum hopes to get it after study has been completed, Ms. Brand said. A 60-foot digital time line is connected to computer monitors, allowing visitors to explore related subjects of interest.