Native American exhibit on the floor at Cuero Heritage Museum
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War bonnets, sand paintings, and several other spiritual objects are all available to get a glimpse of. -
Over 30 Navajo sandpaintings are within the Native American exhibit at The Cuero Heritage Museum. The figures in the back ground of the sand paintings are symbolic representations of a story in Navajo mythology.
By Jacob Stock
The Cuero Record
It seems like the more you start digging for information, the more you are blown away by the history that has been played out before your time. More specifically, the history here in Cuero.
After a recent visit to the Cuero Heritage Museum, located at 124 E. Church Street, I was absolutely astonished from the moment I walked in. Walking into the Cuero Military Exhibit you come across the Brayton Flying Field, now where the Stevenson Unit is currently located. During our days in school we never once learned about Cuero’s history which makes this so much more fascinating to me. Along with several other items in the military exhibit, you can learn about the natives of Cuero that played significant parts in history. You can go as far as to say that the Cuero Heritage Museum is the premier place in town for history related to Cuero.
As a former Gobbler, the history of Gobbler football is truly amazing. The potent tradition that Cuero has built up over the century and beyond is second to none. In the Gobbler football exhibit there’s ‘The Daule Story’ and some brief history of the high school and football team. Let me tell you, football runs deep in this town. One of the more interesting stories you come across off was when Daule played a much bigger school out of Houston and straight beat them up. The opposing coach was so frustrated that he made his players walk back who had traveled to the game by a bus from across town.
With so much information to learn I quickly turned into a sponge. Visiting the exhibit you learn how Cuero and Daule HS integrated in 1965, sending the Gobbler football dynasty off on its way. At that time the Gobblers were led by Bill Engle who was replaced by Gobbler football legend Buster Gilbreth in 1969. It only took five years for the Gobblers to make their first state championship appearance in 1970. Since joining forces and coming together as one, The Cuero Fightin’ Gobblers have a record of 519-179-9, let that sink in.
The Museum Manager of the Cuero Heritage Museum has truly done a fantastic job over her seven years there. Amber Fitts Jones, a Cuero High School graduate of 1991, is as passionate as they come just from the short time we spoke.
During a visit, you find out that the current building that houses the museum was the old Post Office building (The Federal Building) and construction began back in 1916. During the construction of the building, it is considered to be one of the most well-documented building processes of its time.
Originally, I was there to check out the Native American Exhibit that will be on the floor until Nov. 12. The Native Americans are some of the most fascinating people to have ever walked this Earth, and the exhibit displays an interesting aspect of their culture.
“I think it’s amazing that we had two local collectors that donated such a vast amount of Native American collectibles to us,” said Fitts on the overall excitement level of the exhibit. “It’s fascinating because we are able to not only show the history of somebody that is a part of Cuero and them collecting the wonderful Native American collectibles, but also to be able to show the history of the Native Americans.”
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