You’ve driven through South Texas before. You’ve passed by little towns without a second thought. But there’s a hidden gem in San Juan that’s going to stop you in your tracks—and this Wednesday, December 17, they’re offering Winter Texans a special deal you can’t pass up.
The Gelman Stained Glass Museum is opening its doors for Winter Texan Day. And if you’ve never been inside, you need to go.
What You’re Walking Into
Imagine walking into a building that feels like a cathedral. Not because of crosses or pews, but because of light. Hundreds of windows—nearly 200 antique stained-glass windows—surrounding you on every side. Colors so vivid they seem to glow from within. Light that transforms the space into something otherworldly.
That’s the Gelman Stained Glass Museum.
The museum houses the largest and most comprehensive collection of stained-glass windows in the entire United States. Nearly 200 antique windows, mostly from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Each one a masterpiece. Each one with a story.
The History Behind the Glass
These aren’t mass-produced windows. Each one was handcrafted by master artisans during the golden age of American stained glass. The collection includes works from Tiffany Studios—yes, the Tiffany—as well as John LaFarge, Mary Tillinghast, and other legendary glass makers.
Most of these windows originally graced now-closed churches across America’s East Coast. They were installed as memorials to loved ones. And when those churches closed, Dr. Lawrence Gelman—a local anesthesiologist—spent over 30 years collecting them, preserving them, and eventually creating this museum.
The museum’s centerpiece is called “Te Deum”—a massive 40-by-15-foot Tiffany masterpiece. It filled an entire wall of Syracuse’s First Presbyterian Church until the church closed in 2012. Now you can see it in all its glory here in San Juan.
The Design
The museum building itself is designed to replicate European medieval cathedral architecture. A Latin-cross layout. High ceilings. Dark red-oak walls. But here’s what makes it unique: none of the windows on the exterior. Every single stained-glass window is protected inside, illuminated by custom LED systems designed to mimic natural sunlight.
Why? Because these windows deserve perfect conditions. They deserve to be seen exactly as the artisans intended—with pristine light, consistent brightness, and protection from the elements.
Walk inside and you’re immediately transported. Gregorian chant plays softly in the background. The light from 200 windows surrounds you. Every biblical scene—Noah’s Ark, the birth of Christ, the resurrection—comes alive in color and light.
One visitor described it perfectly: “The moment I stepped inside, I was amazed. Each window is a masterpiece depicting various biblical episodes. The vivid scenes are brought to life with almost otherworldly beauty.”
Winter Texan Day: The Details
Date: Wednesday, December 17, 2025
Hours: 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. (Early Bird Hours)
Location: 411 Virgen de San Juan Blvd., San Juan, TX 78589
Discount Rate: $15 per person (regular admission is $20)
What’s Included: Self-paced visit with digital map compatible with smartphones
Contact: (956) 601-0838 or www.gelmanmuseum.org
Why Winter Texans Love This Place
Winter Texans spend months in the Rio Grande Valley. They know the beaches. They know the restaurants. But many have never discovered this gem. And the Gelman knows this—that’s why they’re offering Winter Texan Day every year.
The museum is perfect for a quiet afternoon when you want something meaningful. Something spiritual. Something that reminds you there’s beauty in the world worth preserving.
Plus, the museum is located near the Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle National Shrine, which receives over 1 million visitors annually. It’s basically built into the spiritual fabric of the region.
More Than Just Pretty Windows
These windows aren’t just art. They’re history. They’re craftsmanship from an era when things were made to last 100+ years. They’re stories—each window bears an inscription honoring someone who mattered enough to be remembered in glass.
One window honors the memory of three women who died in a shipwreck in the Gulf of Mexico in 1899. Another reads: “To the Glory of God and in Loving Memory of Charles Chamberlain Gay 1835–1913.”
These are people. These are lives. Preserved in glass for over a century.
The Experience
Bring a camera. Bring a journal. Bring someone you care about. The museum encourages visitors to sketch, sit, and contemplate. There are benches throughout. The experience is designed to be meditative, not rushed.
Bags larger than 4.5″ x 6.5″ aren’t permitted, but lockers are available at the front desk. You can take photos and videos on your phone. Just come prepared to be amazed.
Get There Early
Early Bird Hours run from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Winter Texan Day. That gives you plenty of time to experience the museum without crowds. Come early, spend a few hours, let the light and color wash over you.
This is the kind of experience that stays with you. The kind of place that reminds you why travel matters.
Wednesday, December 17. Winter Texan Day at the Gelman Stained Glass Museum. $15 per person. Come for the windows. Stay for the transcendence.
For tickets and more information, visit gelmanmuseum.org or call (956) 601-0838.
