Visitor Information:
On this page you will find all of the information you need for a pleasant visit to the Costumes of the Americas Museum, a museum that houses one of the largest collections of authentic North, Central and South American indigenous clothing and accessories in the world. Costumes from some of the Caribbean countries are also included in this collection.
February 2013 Event:
The Costumes of the Americas Museum is sponsoring a sale of Regional Costumes, folkart, and food items from artisans in Mexico at 1157 E. Adams Street in Historic Downtown Brownsville on Wednesday February 13th through Wednesday, February 27th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is free. They are also sponsoring an educational workshop on Saturday, February 16th for adults interested in using organic dyes and a workshop on Saturday, February 23rd for children ages 6 to 12 to create a Mexican Folkart item. The workshops will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the same address. Mexican artisans from Oaxaca will present the workshops. Those interested in attending must sign up by Wednesday, February 13th. Call (956) 982-2290, (956) 371-0347, or (956) 455-6054 as spaces are limited.
Museum Location:
The Costumes of the Americas Museum is located in the Mitte Cultural Education Center near downtown Brownsville, Texas.
Costumes of the Americas Museum
#5 Dean Porter Park
501 Ringgold Street
Brownsville, Texas 78520
admin@costumesoftheamericasmuseum.net
Museum Hours
Tuesday through Saturday
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday
Noon to 4 p.m.
Admission
$2.00 per person
Children 10 and under are free.
Free Community Nights - Every last Thursday of the month!
Driving Directions
Coming South on U.S. 77/83, take the 6th Street exit. Veer to the right, traveling along 6th Street towards the Gladys Porter Zoo. Turn right onto Ringgold Street and make a 2nd right turn on Dean Porter Drive. Enter the second gated entrance to the left from Dean Porter Drive. Follow the park road until it dead ends at the resaca. Turn left and follow the park road to the Mitte Cultural Education Center which houses both the Costumes of the Americas Museum and the Children's Museum of Brownsville. The entrance to the Costumes of the Americas Museum faces the Dean Porter Park Plaza Fountain.
Revues
The Costumes of the Americas Museum retains a traveling collection in order to stage costume revues (for a fee ) for local academic functions as well as for private viewings to organizations or other interested parties. Contact the Museum for details.
Tours
Private tours (in English and Spanish) that feature a guided overview of the Museum's current exhibit are available upon request. Please contact the Museum for details and reservations.
For more information, contact us at:
(956) 547-6890
email: admin@costumesoftheamericasmuseum.net
Educational Tool:
On this page you will find all of the information you need for a pleasant visit to the Costumes of the Americas Museum, a museum that houses one of the largest collections of authentic North, Central and South American indigenous clothing and accessories in the world. Costumes from some of the Caribbean countries are also included in this collection.
February 2013 Event:
The Costumes of the Americas Museum is sponsoring a sale of Regional Costumes, folkart, and food items from artisans in Mexico at 1157 E. Adams Street in Historic Downtown Brownsville on Wednesday February 13th through Wednesday, February 27th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Admission is free. They are also sponsoring an educational workshop on Saturday, February 16th for adults interested in using organic dyes and a workshop on Saturday, February 23rd for children ages 6 to 12 to create a Mexican Folkart item. The workshops will be held from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the same address. Mexican artisans from Oaxaca will present the workshops. Those interested in attending must sign up by Wednesday, February 13th. Call (956) 982-2290, (956) 371-0347, or (956) 455-6054 as spaces are limited.
Museum Location:
The Costumes of the Americas Museum is located in the Mitte Cultural Education Center near downtown Brownsville, Texas.
Costumes of the Americas Museum
#5 Dean Porter Park
501 Ringgold Street
Brownsville, Texas 78520
Mailing Address:
Costumes of the Americas Museum
P.O. Box 3790
Brownsville, Texas 78523
admin@costumesoftheamericasmuseum.net
Museum Hours
Tuesday through Saturday
10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Sunday
Noon to 4 p.m.
Admission
$2.00 per person
Children 10 and under are free.
Free Community Nights - Every last Thursday of the month!
Driving Directions
Coming South on U.S. 77/83, take the 6th Street exit. Veer to the right, traveling along 6th Street towards the Gladys Porter Zoo. Turn right onto Ringgold Street and make a 2nd right turn on Dean Porter Drive. Enter the second gated entrance to the left from Dean Porter Drive. Follow the park road until it dead ends at the resaca. Turn left and follow the park road to the Mitte Cultural Education Center which houses both the Costumes of the Americas Museum and the Children's Museum of Brownsville. The entrance to the Costumes of the Americas Museum faces the Dean Porter Park Plaza Fountain.
Revues
The Costumes of the Americas Museum retains a traveling collection in order to stage costume revues (for a fee ) for local academic functions as well as for private viewings to organizations or other interested parties. Contact the Museum for details.
Tours
Private tours (in English and Spanish) that feature a guided overview of the Museum's current exhibit are available upon request. Please contact the Museum for details and reservations.
For more information, contact us at:
(956) 547-6890
email: admin@costumesoftheamericasmuseum.net
Educational Tool:
Costumes of the Americas Museum and Pan American Round Table 1 proudly commended Charro Days, Inc. for its seventy-five year promotion of respect and esteem for the magnificent traditional costumes of Mexico and the culture they represent. To help commemorate this history, the "Regional Costumes of Mexico" was produced. This 59 page book has over 65 full-color photographs of everyday, fiesta and gala costumes representing the 31 states in Mexico along with the Distrito Federal. The price for this book is $10.00. You can purchase it at the Museum or by contacting us by email, mail or by telephone.
We hope you will come and visit
The Costumes of the Americas Museum!
Welcome to the Costumes of the Americas Museum Website!
The Guaymi are an indigenous group that live in the mountainous areas of Panama. The distinctive native dresses are called "nagua". They are made in a variety of color combinations using tiers of ruffles trimmed with an intricate form of cutwork. A hat, traditionally woven of plant fibers by the men, and a crocheted bag are also part of the costume. 
The Tzotzil men from Huistan in the Mexican state of Chiapas wear an extraordinary costume. The pants are an adaptation of an ancient loincloth. Four webs of fabric are sewn together with no leg separation. Men step into this tube, grab the front hem, and fold it to the waist. Then, they pull the back up through the legs. The whole thing is then held together with a long red sash.
The village of San Mateo Ixtatán is located along the Guatemalan border with Mexico. The villagers are called "the weavers of the world". The womens' blouses, or huipiles, are particularly spectacular. The one shown features a sunburst design embroidered with a bone needle on four layers of cotton manta. This design is an important Mayan symbol representing the life giving powers of the sun's light and heat.
This costume from the Caribbean country of Haiti was donated to PART 1 by an ambassador to the country. The blouse is made of white cotton and buttons down the front. The print skirt is gathered at the waist and has lace insets at the hem - made to look like a petticoat peeking through. The hat is most interesting. It sits on a tall stove pipe covered with the same fabric as the skirt. A straw hat sits on top for shade and coolness.
