An Extremely Historic Grand Opening
Written by Katie Bruton, Digital Content Specialist, Blanton Museum of Art
Twenty years ago, the Blanton opened for 24 straight hours.
2006 in Austin, Texas. The tallest building in Austin was the owl-shaped Frost Bank Tower. 700,000 people lived within the city limits. SXSW celebrated 20 years. There was only one P Terry’s Burger Stand.
And at 9 p.m. on Saturday, April 29, 2006, the Blanton Museum of Art — an institution more than two decades older than SXSW — finally opened its current permanent home to the public for the first time. For a full 24 hours! This “Extremely Grand Opening” lived up to its name.
New on the Block
Even before 9 p.m., the line to get inside had already wrapped around the Blanton’s new Michener Gallery Building. The crowd was buzzing, ready to explore their brand-new museum — the first major art museum not only in Austin, but in all Central Texas.
Kim Theel, current Deputy Director of Operations, was there from the beginning: “It was the new thing in town. People were really excited.”
But this “new thing” didn’t appear overnight. It’d been years in the making.
What would eventually become the Blanton was founded in 1963. Before it had a permanent home, the museum’s collection and temporary exhibitions were housed in the University of Texas at Austin’s Art Building starting in 1963. In the 1970s, most of the collection had moved across campus to be displayed in the Harry Ransom Center.
A decade later, this University Art Gallery was renamed the Archer M. Huntington Art Gallery, honoring the Texas philanthropist who donated 4,000 acres in Galveston to help build a future art museum at UT. By its 30th anniversary in 1993, the collection had grown to 9,000 works of art, including one of the country’s most comprehensive collections of Latin American art.
In 1997, the University announced its capital campaign to build an art museum where this growing collection could be shared with students, scholars, and visitors. A year later, the museum gets a new name: Blanton Museum of Art, after benefactor and former Chairman of the UT Board of Regents Jack S. Blanton.
The site of today’s Blanton? It was a parking garage on the southern tip of campus. Construction on the new facility — built to house a fast-growing 17,000-piece collection in one place — began in 2002, just ahead of the museum’s 40th birthday. So many generous donors, alums, and supporters helped pave the way.
Blantinis, Surreal Cereal, and the Big Draw
Kim oversaw membership in the 2000s and helped plan the 24-hour marathon opening. “There was no lull in the action – there was something for everyone.”
She wasn’t exaggerating.
The night kicked off with Austin pianist and tango performer Glover Gill while guests sipped “Blantinis” (the recipe, sadly, remains a mystery).
By 1 a.m., the vibe shifted. Milk and cookies were served, followed by a much-needed caffeine boost: a Dr. Pepper snack break. “Improv for Insomniacs” and post-punk band Pong kept the energy high into the early hours.
For Kim, one activity stood out: the Big Draw. “You had to weave your way through the galleries — there were so many people and huge sheets of paper everywhere.”
Early morning took a delightfully surreal turn for the all-nighter crowd. Cartoons played. A cereal bar opened.
“It’s 5 a.m., and there are people in white coats serving cereal. It’s so surreal … it’s surreal cereal,” remarked one late-night patron to The Austin American Statesman.
Missed the cereal? (Donut fear!) Krispy Kreme and coffee followed, with stacks of world newspapers to peruse.
As the sun rose, visitors eased into the morning with yoga, tai chi, chair massages, meditation, and pillowcase embroidery.
At noon, the ribbon-cutting ceremony was a slightly more traditional affair, complete with the Texas Longhorn Band playing “Texas Fight.”
With the new Blanton now officially open, the day transitioned into the “Fancy Schmancy Family Opening” — featuring dance lessons, lemonade, and (unsurprisingly) more cookies.
Still Pretty Grand
By the end of the 24 hours, 13,000 people had come through. The momentum never slowed. Scavenger hunts filled the galleries, along with talks spanning everything from saints to current events, and, of course, more music. The night ended with a celebration of what everyone came for: the art. Music for the Blanton, an original composition by UT Professor Donald Grantham inspired by artworks in the collection, sent the crowd off on a high note.
Of course, not everything went perfectly. In the lead-up to the event, the museum’s database crashed, wiping out 1,200 member records. The silver lining? Hundreds of new members signed up that day. Those who joined early became a Charter Member, a distinction still held by more than 700 members today.
The opening also marked several big firsts. The museum presented Paul Chan’s first solo museum exhibition, while the inaugural major exhibition New Now Next introduced audiences to new work by U.S. and Latin American artists from the Blanton’s growing contemporary collection.
Twenty years later, that forward-looking, welcoming spirit still defines the museum, even as it looks very different. Now spanning three buildings, with award-winning grounds, record-breaking attendance, and an expanding collection, the Blanton has grown while remaining as ambitious — and as energetic — as ever.
Austin has changed a lot, too, since 2006. It has over 1 million residents, 30+ P Terry’s, and its first professional sports team.
But showing up for art day or night? That still feels right at home.
Update (April 30, 2026): Thanks to Claire Blanton, the Blantini recipe is no longer a mystery. Comment to get the recipe, and drink responsibly!
