Until recently, few people knew that Texas harbored one of the largest and most diverse bodies of rock art in the New World. For decades, several individuals had devoted considerable time and energy to the recording and preservation of the art -- Dr. And Mrs. D. J. Sibley, with their friend and local rancher Rose Mary Jones, convinced the state to purchase Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site as a refuge for examples of all the prehistoric pictograph styles. Solveig Turpin and her colleagues searched for unknown sites; and Jim Zintgraff photographed the many sites now seen by the public at the Witte Museum. Faced with the realization that the art was deteriorating at a rapid pace, we decided to coordinate our efforts and form a foundation that could enlist the talents of a wider spectrum of the public.

The goals of the Rock Art Foundation are simple: public education, research, and preservation. Since 1991, the Foundation has grown to over 900 members. One of the most important sites in the Lower Pecos region, the White Shaman pictographs, was purchased by board members Gale and Connie Galloway and donated to the Foundation. Now, hundreds of people have the opportunity to experience the rock art of the Lower Pecos through a program of guided tours that provide both an aesthetic and educational opportunity to the public. The Rock Art Foundation is based in San Antonio, but the RAF also owns and maintains the White Shaman Preserve near the Seminole Canyon State Historical Park and the Lake Amistad National Recreation Area. For more information about events held at the White Shaman Preserve, see News & Events.

Click on the map for a zoomable version (requires QuickTime from Apple Computer).

Additional Information

Amistad National Recreation Area (National Park Service)
http://www.nps.gov/amis/