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BROWNSVILLE,
TEXAS
On the Rio Grande
Across the border from Matamoros, Mexico
Cameron County
Seat, Texas Gulf Coast
/ South Texas
25° 55' 49" N, 97° 29' 4" W (25.930278, -97.484444)
Hwy 77 and Hwy
281
25 miles S of Harlingen
on Hwy 77
159 miles S of Corpus
Christi
272 miles S of San Antonio
347 miles from Houston
516 miles from Dallas
ZIP Codes 78520–78523, 78526
Area code 956
Population: 186,738 (2020)
175,023 (2010) 139,722 (2000) 107,027 (1990)
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History in
a Pecan Shell
Build a fort, start a war.
Fort Brown
Brownsville was named for a Lt. Brown who was killed when the Fort
bearing his name was under construction and attack in 1846. Zachary
Taylor's building of this fort in disputed territory started the Mexican
War. It's possible, but unlikely that they announced the fort would
be named after the first soldier killed. How's that for an incentive
program?
Many of the original buildings still exist, since the Fort was only
deactivated in 1945. These buildings can be seen on what is now the
campus of University of Texas at Brownsville and Texas Southmost Jr.
College.
The Campus includes a nice view of a resaca - which is the local name
for ox-bow lakes caused by the meandering Rio Grande. |
Brownsville,
Texas
Landmarks, Attractions & History
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Brownsville
Tour
Located off Highway
77 before you get to the border, this is an essential stop. Exit F.M.
809.
Follow the signs for parking and you'll also see the Brownsville Chamber
of Commerce. This is a good place to start your tour.
Pick up a map and information. Maps of The Brownsville Heritage
Trail are available here, as well as Matamoros Information and
other local points of interest.
Two of the pamphlets to be sure to get are
The Cameron County Historical Marker Trail Guide and the Hidalgo
County Historical Marker Travel Guide. Ours were picked up this
month but both bear the date 1998. That's the good thing about history,
unless something is unearthed (or exhumed) not much changes. |
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Old
City Cemetery
Elizabeth St. runs the length of downtown, ending at the Old City
Cemetery. For birders, both ends (Ft. Brown and the Cemetery) abound
with flocks of green
parrots, early morning and dusk. Don't Email us if you don't
see thousands of parrots, we mean you are likely to see groups of
4 - 12. It's still more than you have at home.
Historic
Brownsville Museum
Do not miss the Historic Brownsville Museum at 641 E. Madison. One
of four Southern Pacific Stations built in the Valley in
the late 1920's, the Spanish Colonial Revival Buildings all feature
a stained-glass image of the Southern Pacific Logo.
Stillman
House Museum
Another must see is the Stillman House Museum at 1305 E. Washington.
Brownsville
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A
note not in your guidebook:
During the Mexican War, a group of recently arrived immigrants
from Ireland who enlisted in the Army as their own Company, deserted
their posts and crossed the river at Brownsville, joining the Mexican
Forces. Those who were captured were hanged en masse at the exact
moment the American Flag was raised at Chapultepec Castle in Mexico
City. |
The
Civil War Brownsville and the Mexican Port of Bagdad played a
very important role in the Civil War. Cotton
was shipped from these ports to English ships offshore, waiting to
exchange much needed supplies for the cotton. As you will learn, the
final battle of the Civil War was fought (won by the Confederacy)
12 miles east at Palmito Hill a month after the final whistle
blew.
Lots of fortunes were made, and Brownsville attracted European
immigrants when things settled down. This fact is attested to
by the names in the Brownsville
Cemetery. The river currents are not strong enough to conquer
love, and marriages between the two countries produced populations
that were (by some estimates) 80% mixed. The Peso was coin of the
realm until the railroad arrived in 1910. |
WWI
Troops Parade
Postcard courtesy rootsweb.com/%7Etxpstcrd/ |
| Postcard
courtesy rootsweb.com/%7Etxpstcrd/ |
The
Brownsville-Metamoros Ferry
by Maggie Van Ostrand
The ferry was an efficient means of transportation between the U.S.
and Mexico for 110 years, but in 1929, it took its last trip across
the Rio Grande... |
People
Kris
Kristofferson by Dorothy Hamm
"We would come to learn that his life was far more interesting
than any song he could ever write. Perhaps that's why he had to
write them. His story is well known, born in Brownsville, Texas..."
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Kid
Mendoza' and the Battle of the Bulge
by Murray Montgomery
December 1944 found Lopez in a bloody conflict known as the Battle
of the Bulge. For his actions on Dec. 17, 1944, near Krinkelt, Belgium,
Lopez received the highest military decoration for valor in combat
– the Medal of Honor.
At Brownsville Sgt. Jose Mendoza Lopez's statue stands in Veterans
Park.
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Flock of parrots
in flight
Photo courtesy Ken
Rudine, February 2007 |
Brownsville
Tourist Information
Brownsville
Visitor Information Center:
956-546-3721, 1-800-626-2639.
Brownsville
Convention & Visitors Bureau
http://www.brownsville.org/en/
Brownsville
Chamber of Commerce
http://www.brownsvillechamber.com/
Brownsville
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The
second most historical city in Texas
Said by some to be the second most historical city in Texas, we called
the company in whose brochure we read this "factoid". We asked which
city they considered to be first, and were told we'd have to ask the
owner, but he was out of town. We asked the person we had if they
would like to guess. Hesitantly, they replied: "The Alamo?" Well,
we sometimes forget the question too, and since the answer wasn't
in the form of a question, we had to disqualify our contestant. Second
is not a bad place to be, especially if it takes a war, natural disaster,
or horrible architecture to make you first. |
Forum
Subject: South
Texas
You should
visit the Site of The Battle of Palo Alto. Where U. S. troops
won the battle by using the soil and vegetation of this area as
an aid. The marsh like condition of the soil and the sharp pointed
grass was a natural enemy of advancing troops. Superior technology
of the artillery firepower played a big part of the outcome of the
Battle of Palo Alto. Being able to make artillery shells explode
in mid air was a a big advancement for the time. Check with the
National Park Service they have a detailed description in both the
English and the Spanish point of view. - Gary Gregory, May 26, 2000
There are many
stories in The RGV from King Ranch to San Juan Mission battle of
Palmento Hill many battles of civil war era, last battle of civil
war fought here 3 mos after the war was over. Many historic resources
like an abandoned railroad built by Zachery Taylor and his troops.
Now lies in ruin marking a bygone era in our history. This land
now belongs to the Laguna Atcosta wildlife area US Fish and wildlife
Service. Rio Hondo even had a semi-pro Baseball team in the early
1920's. Or the Baila Family descendants of the Padre that Padre
Island's namesake. How the fast talking gringos stole the land from
their uneducated family members who could not speak English. Or
even more recent Senator Benson and his Family History. The National
Parks Service In Brownsville has many stories and historic articles
about the war of 1812. To name just a few that comes to mind. -
Gary Gregory, May 13, 2000
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Escapes, in its purpose to preserve historic, endangered and vanishing
Texas, asks that anyone wishing to share their local history, stories,
landmarks and recent or vintage photos, please contact
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