prepare for nostalgia

New Bullock Museum exhibit captures spark and innovation of the 90s

A new nostalgia-inducing special exhibition debuting at the Bullock Texas State History Museum is giving viewers a way to look back at the magic of the final decade before the turn of the millennia.

The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future will showcase "the watershed events and innovations" that changed the world and ushered in the technological revolution of the early aughts. These landmark moments include political events like the fall of the Berlin Wall and President Bill Clinton's impeachment, as well as cultural shifts through the lens of fashion, sports, and movie icons.

"In between the opening and closing of the 1990s, genres of music rose and fell, Blockbuster made everyone a critic, TV became must see, Beanie Babies replaced some of our retirement plans, and at some point we all did the Macarena," the exhibit description says. "There was a cloned sheep, an impeached president, and a booming economy bolstered by the internet."

The exhibit also asks viewers to imagine or remember a time when "technology didn’t control us" — when the internet could only be accessed via a desktop computer confined to a dedicated room and tucked away in a desk or solid wood cabinet. That time was before social media and instant communication, when we didn't have all the knowledge of the world at our fingertips.

Bullock Museum special exhibit The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future; cassette tape players and CD players Personal CD mixes had something that playlists today just don't. Photo courtesy of the Bullock Museum

Visitors will spot these vintage artifacts in the exhibit:

A piece of the Berlin Wall
A recreation of the iconic home video rental store Blockbuster Video
A timeline of portable media players like Sony Walkmans, CD players, and MP3 players
Famous movie character costumes, including Whoopi Goldberg’s pink suit from romance thriller Ghost and Tom Hanks’ combat uniform from Saving Private Ryan
Outfits from "era-defining music superstars," including Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Jay-Z, and more
Memorabilia from Olympic champion athletes like figure skater Kristi Yamaguchi, gymnast Kerri Strug, and swimmer Amy Van Dyken
Technological innovations like Apple iMac computers, landline phones, video games, and others
More recognizable fashion trends and popular toys

The exhibit is on loan from the Colorado History Museum, an educational institution dedicated to representing the Centennial State's culture and history.

The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future will debut on November 14 and will be on display at the Bullock Museum through March 21, 2027. A member reception will precede the opening on November 12 from 6-8 pm. The exhibit is included with regular museum admission ($22 for adults; $18 for seniors, students, and military; $16 for youth ages 6-17; and free for members).

Bullock Museum special exhibit The 90s: Last Decade Before the Future; computer desk

Photo courtesy of the Bullock Museum

Life was much simpler when the internet was confined to a physical desktop.

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On the Other Slide

Indoor action park brings 15 slides and more to first Austin location

Slick City/Facebook

Slides, bouncy floors, and more make Slick City a good spot for getting energy out.

An indoor action park where slides are the main event is coming to Austin to open its first location. Slick City Action Park will open at 4501 W. Braker Lane, Ste. C, in December. A second location is in the works in Round Rock, with an expected opening in February of 2027.

The Austin address is between The Arboretum and The Domain, and a press release ties the opening to Austin's continued population growth.

The dry-slide (i.e. not water slides) and air court park spans 42,000 square feet, containing 15 slides and other "gravity-defying attractions." Slides include classic shapes like the "Corkscrew," as well as more creative shapes like the "Zig Zag" or "Super Fly" that launches riders off the end. Kids can also race on side-by-side slides.

In addition to slides, the park offers a Zip Rail, Junior Jungle, Web Crawler, a Swing Trapeze, and three Air Courts — at a glance, these look like regular basketball or dodgeball courts, but the springy floor is cushioned with air. The spread of activities is designed to appeal to different ages and interests, the release says.

The Austin location will maintain a charitable partnership with the nonprofit Roc Solid Foundation, which helps kids with cancer find strength through play. Slick City team members and Roc Solid will build a playset for a local child with pediatric cancer; they'll start at Slick City and transport the playset to the child's home, where it will stay.

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