SAN ANTONIO, Texas (July 28, 2022) –Visitors to the Witte Museum were greeted by a vibrant, new high-definition LED video wall in the Gates Mineral Company and Gates and Elliott Families Orientation Theater beginning this month. The enhanced theater experience was made possible thanks to funding from the Gates Mineral Company.

Nature, science and culture meet at the Witte, and the film playing in the orientation theater begins visitors’ discovery of how land, water and sky intersected to shape the environment of the past, and that of Texas today. Viewers are introduced to the concept of Texas Deep Time, which carries throughout the museum to help them connect the past to the present and consider how they can help shape Texas’ future.

“The Texas Deep Time Theater provides an inspirational introduction to the layered stories of people and places over thousands of years, and of extraordinary animals, including evidence of exotic flora and fauna over millions of years, beginning with the dinosaurs that lived in what we now call Texas,” noted Marise McDermott, President and CEO. “The updated theater will encourage the exploration of Texas, at the Witte and beyond.”

The orientation theater is just one example of how the Witte Museum uses technology to provide transformative, engaging learning experiences for visitors of all ages throughout the museum. Theatrical lighting and soundscapes transport visitors to distant times and places while interactive video screens deepen learning about dinosaurs and Texas wildlife. A highlight for visitors is the interactive rock art exhibit in the Kittie West Nelson People of the Pecos Gallery where they can explore different styles of rock art found in Texas through a touchscreen that changes projections of the rock art on the gallery wall.

The Gates Mineral Company and Gates and Elliott Families Orientation Theater experience is included with museum admission. Hours, location and tickets can be found at https://www.WitteMuseum.org/.