Related Post: ‘¡Bailamos! ‘ at Brownsville’s Costume of the Americas Museum

Celebrating International Museum Day at the Costume of the Americas Museum

Monday, May 18, 2026 marked International Museum Day—a global event first celebrated nearly 50 years ago to highlight the importance of cultural exchange and historical preservation. While the official day is just 24 hours, celebrations around the world can last a weekend or even an entire week. Every year, global participation grows; last year alone, more than 37,000 museums across 158 countries and territories took part. (International Council of Museums, 2026)

As a massive supporter of local culture, I’ve been on a mission to visit all of the Brownsville museums recently. I took advantage of this significant week to finally check the last one off my list: the Costume of the Americas Museum downtown, currently hosting the stunning ¡Bailamos! exhibition.

Because the museum is normally closed on Mondays, they celebrated International Museum Day the following Tuesday by offering free admission to all guests. Here is what it was like.

Step Inside the ¡Bailamos! Exhibition

¡Bailamos! explores Mexican dances as a vibrant, deeply meaningful expression of culture. Through a dynamic presentation of traditional, ceremonial, and folklórico styles from across Mexico, the exhibition highlights how movement, music, and costume come together to mark life’s most meaningful moments, from faith and courtship to holidays and community celebrations. (Brownsville Historical Association, 2026)

What to Expect:

• The Main Display: The colorful exhibition features 12 authentic costumes from throughout Mexico, highlighting the distinctive choreography, musical elements, and significance of each regional tradition. You’ll get an up-close look at living traditions preserved across generations, including the iconic Jarabe Tapatío. Each has a corresponding QR that, when scanned, has a video depicting the dance.
• Behind the Mask: This features nine different masks, each accompanied by detailed background information explaining its historical and cultural context.
• Interactive Fun: If you’re feeling artistic, you can try the step-by-step video dance tutorial or head over to the mask-making station to create your own masterpiece.

My Take: I highly recommend this exhibition. It was fascinating to learn the background information on how these dances vary so beautifully by region. If you’re a dance enthusiast or a history buff, this is absolutely worth your time.

Plan Your Visit

There’s still plenty of time to catch the magic this summer.

• Run Dates: Now through August 21, 2026
• Location: Costume of the Americas Museum (Part of the Brownsville Historical Association)

Explore More of Brownsville’s History

Want to keep the adventure going? The Brownsville Historical Association (BHA) manages several incredible sites worth exploring:

• Brownsville Heritage Museum
• Stillman House Museum
• Historic Brownsville Museum
• Laureles Ranch House Museum

Upcoming BHA June Event: Kids Summer Camp

Looking for a fun, educational summer activity for the kids? Registration is now open for the BHA’s Time Travelers Camp.

• When: June 9 – June 13, 2026 | 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM daily
• Who: Kids ages 8–12 years old
• Cost: $75 per child (covers all 5 days)
• Registration Deadline: Tuesday, June 2, 2026

Camp Activities Include:

• Visiting local historic museums
• Learning about unique South Texas wildlife
• Participating in historic downtown walking tours
• A wide range of other exciting, hands-on activities

*Note: There is a strict limit of 20 children, and full payment is required at the time of registration to reserve a space (no refunds). *

How to Register:

Registration forms are available online. You can drop your completed form off in person at the Historic Brownsville Museum (641 E. Madison St.) or email it directly to jgarcia@brownsvillehistory.org.