Shopping for a Cause — Museums and Historic Sites JUN 23 2011
Traveling around the United States, I often find that the gift shops at museums are a rich trove of gifts and meaningful souvenirs. The shop at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City is a favorite. Plus, you support the ongoing programs of the museums through your purchases in their shop.
In Fredericksburg and Gillespie County, some great shopping opportunities exist at our museums and historic sites. Let’s start with the museum shop in the George H.W. Bush Gallery of the National Museum of the Pacific War. Although leaning toward the male audience with Pacific War models of planes and boats, World War II history books and paratrooper shoulder bags, the shop also stocks books for young readers, toys and aviator bears (yes, they wear goggles!). For the women, a whole series of Rosie Riveter items are a hit. Postcards, World War II DVDs and prints/posters are also on the shelves.
At the Pioneer Museum, located at 325 West Main Street, great books about the German history of Fredericksburg, Gillespie County and the Texas Hill Country are in demand. They also carry Fredericksburg souvenirs, Christmas ornaments and postcards.
At the LBJ State Park and Historic Site near Stonewall, the gift shop is stocked to the brim with books on Lyndon Baines Johnson, the 36th president of the United States, and the iconic Lady Bird Johnson. There are some nice items hand-painted with wildflowers (wine glasses, for example make a useful souvenir!), as well as many books on Texas flora and fauna. Several great books are available to use in identifying wildflowers that are sprinkled across the Texas hills in the springtime.
Shop on— and support your local museum or historic site as a side benefit!
Ernie Loeffler
Director, Fredericksburg Convention and Visitor Bureau
