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Thursday, December 10, 2015 11:54AM
HOUSTON (KTRK) --
The Virgin of Guadalupe has been a symbol of hope, protection and comfort to her followers for almost 500 years. Now Houstonians will have the opportunity to take a closer look at her story and her life.

A new exhibit at the Houston Museum of Natural Sciences is incredibly special and goes far beyond simple history or spiritual needs.

In 1531, a man named Juan Diego said the Virgin appeared to him. When the bishop at the time asked for proof, her image miraculously appeared on his garments. While that original garment with her image remains at the Basilica in Mexico City, a reproduction is part of this visiting tour.

This exhibit, which runs at the museum from December 11 through September 5, 2016, tells her story and digs deeper, tracing back the Spanish influence in Mexico, the clash with the Aztecs, to the birth of a new country.

Dr. Dirk Van Tuerenhout, HMNS Curator of Anthropology, explained, "This is the mother of God. She is Guadalupe. She is Mexico. So this is not only the image which was transferred unto a fabric worn at one point by a very humble Aztec farmer. To carry on that image he is now the fabric of society in Mexico."

Houstonian Jeannette Cantu said, "In my opinion, it's a big opportunity for the people from Houston to come to the exhibit and know about our culture."

Bringing this exhibit to Houston took about a year and a half of efforts. The special exhibit requires an additional fee over the regular museum admission price.