The Witte Museum has opened “The Steves Family: Building San Antonio,” an exhibition running through June 21, 2026, that examines the multi-generational impact of one of the city’s most prominent families. Located in the newly dedicated Steves Family Gallery, the showcase combines archival documentation with personal artifacts to trace the family’s trajectory from 19th-century German immigrants to modern civic leaders.
The exhibition features rare items from both the Witte’s permanent collection and private family holdings. Key artifacts on display include a family Bible brought to Texas by the immigrant ancestors, a 19th-century firefighter’s helmet from San Antonio’s early volunteer companies, and elaborate Fiesta coronation robes, including a gown worn by a Duchess in the Order of the Alamo. Interactive displays allow visitors to map the Steves family’s influence on San Antonio’s architecture, specifically through the lumber and millwork business founded by Edward Steves in 1866. The narrative highlights the literal construction of the city, noting that the original Witte Museum building itself was constructed using lumber from Steves & Sons.
While the exhibit offers a detailed look at the material culture of San Antonio’s elite, it also highlights the complexities of donor-funded curation. The gallery’s renovation and the exhibition were supported by a gift from the Steves family, a dynamic that inevitably shapes the historical narrative. The display focuses heavily on the family’s contributions to civic life and industry, presenting a predominantly celebratory view of their role in the region’s development during the Reconstruction and Gilded Age eras, periods marked by significant economic disparity in the region.
Contextually, the Steves family remains a formidable force in the business world, distinguishing them from purely historical dynasties. Steves & Sons, the door manufacturing company established by Edward Steves, continues to operate and recently made national headlines for successfully pursuing a private antitrust lawsuit against competitor JELD-WEN. This active corporate presence provides a contemporary counterpoint to the nostalgic domesticity of the “recreated King William tablescape” featured in the museum. The exhibit serves as both a historical record and a testament to the enduring power of San Antonio’s established industrial families.
“The Steves Family: Building San Antonio” is open now and is included with standard museum admission.
