On a nice sunny weekend we decided to check out the Elisabet Ney Museum located in the Hyde Park area.  We walked over (it was about a thirty to forty minute walk) and we cut through a park to get to her studio.

Here’s a picture of the European sculptress’s Musuem and a close up of the front entrance ( I guess it’s a self portrait):
       

I so wanted to take a few picture inside and well, I found a site ( Texas Society of Architects/AIA ) that has a few photos of her sculptures.  I was fancinated by the beauty and detailed artwork in her studio.  The studio itself was also interesting.  It was originally a smaller building and later on she added an addition which included a living area on the same level as the studio.  We went up to the second level using the tower where she had her bedroom and I think the kitchen although I’m not sure. 

We went up to the tower and found the secret door.  It was cleverly hidden behind a bookcase which was flushed to the wall.  Ron pulled the bookcase towards him and load and behold there was the secret door.   The tower has windows on three side and we looked out from them.  It was a lovely sight. 

Prior to leaving, I just had to ask, if this building had the basement originally or was it added later. The musuem assistant told me the basement was original to the smaller studio and expanded with the addtion.  She said they had updated the basement to be the musuem’s office area.  She was kind enough to show me the basement and I was thrilled since out here there are hardly any buildings with basement.  The basement was quite modern and yet very cozy.

On our return home, we strolled through the park and I was able to get these pictures:
    
Ron walking through the park:

We also saw some petrified wood used as decor on building, signs, and gates.  The first picture is of a plaque on the side of a building and the other is a closeup of that side.
   
Oh, by the way the building was a Walgreens Drug store and notice the “Hyde Park” engraved on the bottom of the second photo. This reminded me of Hyde Park in Chicago.  Actually, this area felt a lot like the one in Chicago.