87. Visit the IMAS Museum in McAllen, Texas

This is the thirteenth installment of our series entitled, "Top 100 Things to do in the South Padre Island/Brownsville Area," designed to aid the visitor in getting the complete experience of this tropical area in South Texas. As we work our way up to the top things to do ON the island, if it is cold and rainy or you want to treat the kids or grandkids to an exceptional time, you might consider an afternoon in the International Museum of Arts and Sciences on the corner of Nolana and Bicentennial Blvd in McAllen.

87. Visit the IMAS Museum in McAllen, Texas.

Salome receives the head of John the Baptist on a silver platter.

This work was called the American Mona Lisa.

There were artifacts from all over the world.

Inlaid ivory box with intricate details you cannot see without being there in person.

A Zulu shield that was made of skin hung on the wall among the other artifacts.

This teak dining room set had mother-of-pearl inlaid in it.



































These were Chinese PAPER cutouts



















You had to be there to see how miniscule the details were.

This display was from Mexico.

There was a display sponsored by NASA

that shot the coolest images on a spherical screen.

The spherical screen hung in midair.

There was a great children's section.

Each piece of wood you touched produced a different sound.

It was triggered by the heat in your hand.

These are just a few of the animals there.

There were many mosaics there.

There was an exhibition on torture devices.

This belt resulted in infections and gangrene.

The Iron Maiden caused a slow, painful death.

The spiked chair.

This was used to dislocate limbs.

Man's inhumanity to man throughout the ages was apalling.

Many of these cages were commonly displayed outside of town halls and other public places to show that you should not question authority or you would be hung naked in one of these until the elements and then scavenger birds picked your bones clean.

This sword, from a private collection, was used for beheadings.

The adjacent room housed a brighter exhibition featuring spectacular works of art.

Layers upon layers of color danced inside glass.

The colors swirled inside the panes of glass.

You cannot see the miniscule brush strokes that are visible in person.

The baptism of Jesus Christ.

The colors in the glass shone through with the light in an amazing fashion.

The crown's jewels were glowing rocks of glass.











I could not transfer their luminescence onto film for you.

You must see this in person to fully appreciate its beauty.

Layer upon layer of luminescense.

My favorites were the deep azures and iridescent jewels.

The gift shop has many interesting and unique items for sale.

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