Texas Tennis Museum Artifacts Featured at the Bullock Museum’s Sports & Music Exhibit

Images courtesy of the Bullock Texas State History Museum

The Texas Tennis Museum and Hall of Fame is honored to have several artifacts from our collection on display at the Bullock Texas State History Museum in Austin. These items are featured on the third floor as part of the Sports and Music exhibit, which explores how athletics and music have shaped Texas culture and identity.

Our contribution focuses on the groundbreaking Virginia Slims Tour, which marked the beginning of the women’s professional tennis circuit and forever changed the landscape of sports. The exhibit highlights the tour’s historic launch in Houston in 1970—a pivotal moment that not only advanced gender equality in athletics but also showcased the power of athletes to drive social change.

Among the artifacts on loan from the Texas Tennis Museum are:

• Nancy Richey’s Virginia Slims warmup suit – worn during her time on the Virginia Slims Tour, representing her status as a trailblazer in women’s professional tennis.

• Original Virginia Slims publications – chronicling the early days of the tour, the players who helped shape it, and its cultural impact on women’s sports.

  
  

This display underscores the significance of Texas in the history of women’s professional tennis and celebrates the achievements of athletes who helped pave the way for future generations.

We invite you to visit the Bullock Museum and experience this powerful exhibit that connects sport, culture, and history. For more information about the exhibit and museum hours, visit the Bullock Texas State History Museum website.