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Roma to Rio Grande City: A Day of Flavor, Culture, and Hidden Gems
Discover the flavor, history and culture of Roma and Rio Grande City through agave spirits, a historic trolley tour and Starr County museums.
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Kick Off the Season on South Padre Island
The South Padre Island edition of Welcome Home RGV’s Activity Director Boot Camp showcased the best of coastal Texas—from the South Texas Ecotourism Center and Port Isabel Lighthouse to the Birding & Nature Center and Louie’s Backyard. Attendees enjoyed networking, music, and a dolphin watch cruise hosted by Breakaway Cruises.
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Big Boots of Mercedes Celebrate a Texas Tradition
The nearly six-foot-tall Big Boots of Mercedes celebrate the city’s deep roots in agriculture, education and handmade Texas bootmaking.
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Hummingbirds cause a stir
There’s excitement in the air as hummingbirds cause quite a stir during their fall migration. It’s a simple joy for those who find the small–but mighty–critters entertaining to watch. Their migration is a precursor to winter visitors arriving in droves! If you’re already in South Texas or plan to arrive during the month of October,…
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Costumes of the Americas Museum
The City of Brownsville is home to a small, but oh-so-worth-a-visit museum, Costumes of the Americas Museum. This little museum offers vibrant exhibits of textiles, accessories, and folk art on a rotating basis, so plan on visiting again and again. Located in the Mitte Cultural District, bookend your stop with a visit to the Brownsville…
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San Fernando Building
by Eryn Reddell Wingert This whimsical mural is located on the San Fernando Building in downtown Brownsville. The Brownsville Heritage Trail marker explains that one half of the building was built in 1877 for Victoriano Fernandez, a furniture dealer. Downtown Brownsville is chock full of historical sites and public art. This mural is visible from…
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Texas Historical Marker
This Texas Historical Commission marker sits along Military Highway southeast of La Feria. It chronicles the Alonso de Leon Expeditions against French usurpation of Spain’s claim on Texas in the late 1600s. In 1687k de Leon crossed into present-day Roma and later led a successful military operation against the French adventurer Rene La Salle’s Fort…
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Stillman House
The small, brick-paved courtyard behind the historic Stillman House in Brownsville is home to various plants, including sage, banana, and yucca. The house dates back to 1850, when Charles and Elizabeth Stillman rented it from builder-owner Henry Miller. The home’s namesake only lived there for three years; the Trevino family owned the home and incorporated…
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Local Artists Keeping McAllen Beautiful
Story by Eryn Reddell Wingert | Photos Courtesy of Creative Explorations Oneida Trevino of Harlingen knew she wanted to be an artist since childhood. By her senior year in high school, her artwork was on display for a year at the U. S. Capitol, the result of a congressional competition. “That’s when I was like,…
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Brownsville Theater Sharpens Appeal to Winter Texans
by Ric Cavazos Brandon Binder analyzed last season’s attendance at the Camille Lightner Playhouse and came away with an important conclusion. “We had lower numbers from Winter Texans,” said Binder, the theater’s artistic director. “Winter Texans made up 30 percent of our audience.” Binder and Camille’s leadership figured the iconic Brownsville theater should be more…
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There’s Something for Everyone at McAllen’s Famous Library
Story and photos by Eryn Reddell Wingert This is the story of the little library that could and did, in a big way. The McAllen Public Library (MPL) originally opened downtown in 1950. The 40,000-square-foot, mid-century-style building boasted three floors, an atrium, and wall-to-wall books. It was the only local library around for a period…
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Birding Hotspots in the Rio Grande Valley
Special to Welcome Home Winter Texan Erica Barrera wrote “Getting Ready for the Fall Bird Migration” in the November 27, 2024, issue of Welcome Home Winter Texan. This list of birding hotspots is a companion piece to that story. Both the story and this list of hotspots first appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of…
