It’s the rare visitor who won’t discover that his or her ethnic group has contributed to the history of Texas: 26 different ethnic and cultural groups are represented in the imaginative, hands-on displays of this educational center, one of three campuses of the University of Texas at San Antonio (it’s also a Smithsonian affiliate). Outbuildings include a one-room schoolhouse, an adobe home, a windmill, and the multimedia Dome Theater, which presents images of Texas on multiple screens. A variety of heritage festivals and kid-friendly shows and events, such as pioneer life reenactments, holography exhibits, and ghost-tale storytellers at Halloween are always on tap; phone or check the institute’s website for a current schedule.