Original artwork by Irving Independent School District high school art students reflecting a message of hope and healing for those who have experienced domestic violence or know someone who has been impacted by it.

Join Us Talk on Nov. 8 With Photographer Jeanine Michna-Bales

KATSEYE Irving Fan Event!

Step back in time and fall into history at Bear Creek Heritage Center!

Second Saturdays at IAM! FREE Admission and FREE Activities for Everyone!

City of Irving Mourns the Passing of Ruth Paine The City of Irving and the Irving Department of Arts and Culture are saddened to announce the passing of Ruth Hyde Paine, who died on August 31, 2025, just three days before her 93rd birthday. Ruth Paine’s life became intertwined with one of the most pivotal moments in American history. In 1963, Marina Oswald and her children were living with Ruth in her modest Irving home when President John F. Kennedy was assassinated. Unknown to Ruth at the time, Lee Harvey Oswald had stored the rifle the Warren Commission determined was used in the assassination in her garage. In the aftermath of the tragedy, Ruth provided crucial testimony to the Warren Commission, answering more questions than any other witness. Over the decades, she gave countless interviews and dedicated herself to clarifying her role in history. While her name became forever linked to the Kennedy assassination, Ruth Paine was also an educator, a linguist, a Quaker, and a woman of principle, whose life stretched far beyond November 22, 1963. In 2009, the City of Irving purchased the Paine home on West 5th Street and restored it to its 1963 appearance. In 2013, the home opened as the Ruth Paine House Museum, a historic site that explores the events leading up to President Kennedy’s assassination. The museum also highlights Ruth’s friendship with Marina Oswald, which brought the Oswald family into her home during that pivotal time. After the opening, Ruth visited the museum several times, generously sharing her memories and insights, and offering her support for the city’s efforts to preserve this important chapter of history. “The City of Irving is deeply grateful to Ruth Paine,” said Irving Mayor Rick Stopfer “Through her generosity and willingness to share her experiences, she helped us preserve a vital piece of history for future generations. Her life reminds us that history is often lived by ordinary people placed in extraordinary circumstances.” Ruth Paine will be remembered not only for the history that unfolded around her but also for her lifelong commitment to education, peace, and service. The City of Irving extends its heartfelt condolences to her family and friends. Information regarding a public memorial service has not been announced at this time. To see our memorial page honoring Ruth Paine, please visit: https://www.irvingarchivesandmuseum.com/ruth-paine-memorial . About the Ruth Paine House Museum The Ruth Paine House Museum immerses visitors in the story of the events leading up to the assassination of President John F. Kennedy through a restored 1963 suburban home, multimedia exhibits, and projected vignettes featuring Ruth and Michael Paine and Marina and Lee Harvey Oswald. Period furnishings, family photographs, and archival media transport visitors back to a pivotal moment in American history while also exploring Ruth Paine’s civic and social justice work during the 1960s. For more information about the Ruth Paine House Museum, please visit: https://www.irvingarchivesandmuseum.com/ruth-paine-house-museum.

Irving Archives & Museum is honored to present a groundbreaking new exhibition, Badge of Pride: From Silence…To Celebration! , in partnership with the Dallas-based nonprofit Badge of Pride , with the organization’s Executive Director, Adrian Cardwell, serving as lead curator. Running from June 6 to September 28, 2025, this landmark exhibit offers one of the first and most comprehensive artifact-driven explorations of LGBTQ+ history in Texas. Anchored by a powerful panel from the National AIDS Memorial Quilt , the exhibition weaves together personal artifacts, archival materials, and historical narratives to showcase over a century of LGBTQ+ history. Featuring items from Badge of Pride’s extensive collection, as well as artifacts on loan from private and institutional collections, this exhibition provides visitors with a rare opportunity to connect with history through the objects and stories of those who lived it. A JOURNEY FROM SILENCE TO CELEBRATION The exhibition’s title draws inspiration from the 1995 Pride theme, "From Silence to Celebration," honoring the LGBTQ+ community’s transformation from fear and invisibility to resilience, activism, and joy. It is a tribute to those who broke the silence, those who fought for visibility, and the generations who turned pain into pride, ensuring that LGBTQ+ stories are not only remembered but cherished and celebrated. A CALL TO ACTION Designed to educate, inspire, and empower, Badge of Pride: From Silence…To Celebration! invites visitors into a safe space for reflection and dialogue. A dynamic speaker series, Say It Loud: From the Shadows to the Mainstage, along with community-driven events, will deepen engagement and connection to the themes of the exhibit. By centering the voices and experiences of the LGBTQ+ community, this exhibition serves as a powerful reminder of how far we’ve come—and the work still ahead to build a more inclusive future. Four Core Themes Guide the Experience: Claiming Identity Step back over a century to explore LGBTQ+ life before Stonewall, highlighting the resilience and determination of a community finding its voice. Resisting Oppression Divided into two parts, this section examines the Gay Liberation movement of the 1970s and the ongoing fight against discrimination, illustrating how collective action sparked social change. AIDS: Surviving a Plague This solemn yet powerful chapter honors the LGBTQ+ community’s strength and activism during the AIDS crisis, featuring a panel from the National AIDS Memorial Quilt with a special North Texas connection. Celebrating Pride & Power The exhibit culminates in a vibrant tribute to LGBTQ+ visibility, featuring a homage to Harvey Milk’s legacy and a call to continue the fight for equality. This exhibition is more than a history lesson—it is a testament to the power of community, visibility, and pride. Join us as we honor the triumphs, struggles, and legacies that have shaped the LGBTQ+ experience, around the globe and right here at home in North Texas.

Join Us at IAM for Docent-Led Tours on the First Sunday of Every Month at 2 pm! FREE ADMISSION & FREE TOUR!

Caribbean Indigenous Resistance / Resistencia indígena del Caribe ¡Taíno Vive!, an exhibition from the Smithsonian presents the history of the Taínos, the Indigenous peoples of the northern Caribbean islands, and how their descendants are reaffirming their culture and identity today. The bilingual (English/Spanish) exhibition was organized for travel by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) in collaboration with the National Museum of the American Indian and the National Museum of the American Latino and will be on view at IAM through August 10, 2025. The exhibition explores the Taíno heritage of today and how their descendants are participating in a growing movement to reaffirm their Caribbean Indigenous identity and culture. The term Taíno refers to the diverse Arawak-speaking peoples of the Greater Antilles (Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, and Puerto Rico) and their descendants within and outside of the Caribbean. In 1492, the Taíno discovered Christopher Columbus, an encounter that set-in motion a Spanish invasion that devastated the Taíno civilization and decimated their population. However, the exhibition reveals that in places like Puerto Rico, Cuba and Jamaica, historical records and regional traditions point to Indigenous survival and rich cultural legacies within and outside the Caribbean. Visitors will learn about the Taíno survival journey through stories, contemporary crafts, musical instruments, and utilitarian objects associated with aspects of Native day-to-day life. The exhibition includes a short video that showcases the impacts of colonial encounters in the Caribbean and the nexus of the first interactions between the new and the old world. Audiences will discover examples of Indigenous musical instruments such as the maracas and the güiro, traditionally made from the dritas fruit of the Higuera tree, native to parts of Central America and Puerto Rico. Contemporary objects such as jícara bowls show the traditional eating and drinking utensils first used by the Taínos that were made from the fruit of the gourd tree. The exhibition received federal support from the Latino Initiatives Pool, administered by the National Museum of the American Latino. About Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service (SITES) SITES has been sharing the wealth of Smithsonian collections and research programs with millions of people outside Washington, D.C., for more than 70 years. SITES connects Americans to their shared cultural heritage through a wide range of exhibitions about art, science, and history, which are shown wherever people live, work and play. For exhibition description and tour schedules, visit: sites.si.edu.