Head into IMAS with family and friends to learn about the Olmecs and other Mesoamerican civilizations. Enjoy hands-on activities throughout the day, including an Olmec presentation, the Olmec Colossal Head Community Piñata Build, jaguar mask decorating, Ojo de Dios weaving, and more.
Included with general admission. Free for IMAS Members
Olmec Colossal Head Community Piñata Build
Visitors are invited to participate in a colorful community art project during Exploring the Olmecs at IMAS alongside artist Josuè Rawmirez, who will be exhibiting Piñatabstract at IMAS in February 2026. Together, participants will apply colorful strips of tissue paper to create a vibrant Olmec colossal head.
Presentations
Deepen your understanding of Olmec history and culture with special talks by IMAS Curator Marcelo Ramirez at 11:30 a.m., followed by a presentation by Dr. Servando Hinojosa, Department of Anthropology at UTRGV, at 1:00 p.m
About the Olmec Head at IMAS
Reproduction of the original located at the Museum of Anthropology of Xalapa, Veracruz.
Donated to the City of McAllen, Texas by Fidel Ferrera Beltran, Governor of Veracruz.
Received by Richard Cortez,Mayor of McAllen, Texas, January of 2010. Cabeza Olmeca.
The Olmec were an ancient Pre Columbian civilization that flourished in the tropical Gulf Coast region of Mexico from 1400 BC to 400 BC where the modern-day states of Veracruz and Tabasco are now located. The Olmec are said to have laid many of the foundations for the civilizations that followed.
To this day, there have been 17 different colossal Olmec heads discovered. This andesite sculpture is a replica of Colossal Head 8 from the site of San Lorenz (Veracruz). The original Colossal head Is made of basalt. (volcanic rock) and is at permanent exhibition at the Museum of Anthropology at Jalapa. Veracruz, Mexico. Scholars believed that the Olmec carved these stone heads to commemorate their rulers.
Sobre la cabeza olmeca en el IMAS
Reproducción del original que se encuentra en el Museo de Antropología de Xalapa, Veracruz.
Donado a la Ciudad de McAllen, Texas por Fidel Ferrera Beltrán, Gobernador de Veracruz.
Recibido por Richard Cortez,Alcalde de McAllen, Texas, enero de 2010. Cabeza Olmeca.
Los Olmecas fueron una Antigua civilizacion Precolombina que florecio en la región tropical de in Costa del Golfo do Mexico de 1400 AC a 400 AC on donde ahora se encuontran los estados de Veracruz y Tabasco.
Se considera que los Olmeres crearon las bases de civilizaciones posteriores Hasta hoy se han descubierto 17 diferentes colosales cabezas Olmecas. Esta escultura hecha de andesite es una replica de la Colosal Cabeza 8 del sitio de Son Lorenzo (Veracuz) La Colosal Cabeza original esta hecha de basalto (roca volcanica) y se encuentra en exhibicion permanente en el Museo do Antropologia en Jalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. Investigadores considran que los Olmecas esculpian estas cabezas de piedra para conmemorar o sus lideres.
