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Brownsville Historical Association Preserves Area Heritage
- Updated: July 12, 2019
Juan Velez, the city’s Historical Preservation Officer, stands by a collection of 32 impressions he made of the city’s most historical monuments.. Photo: Tony Vindell/LFN
by Tony Vindell/LFN
Anyone interested in learning about the culture and heritage of one of the Lone Star State’s most historical cities can do so right here?
The Brownsville Historical Association has a valuable arsenal of facts, information and buildings to look into the past of who the city founders were, the battles fought in this part of South Texas, the structures built and the settlers that found a new fertile land for farming, ranching and other commercial ventures.
The association manages four city-owned complexes and owns two others.
The first ones are The Brownsville Heritage Complex, Historic Brownsville Museum, Market Square Research and the Old City Cemetery centers.
The latter ones are The Historic Alonso Building and Los Laureles Ranch House Museum.
Tara Putegnat, the BHA executive director, said a group of volunteers and employees as well have been working diligently to educate the public about the area’s history, its buildings and historic preservation matters since the middle 1940s.
“We hold a number of events throughout a year,” she said. “We have book signings, art exhibits and lecture sessions.”
Another BHA-sponsored event called Historical Happy Hours, a two-hour get together takes place the last Friday of the month. It’s free for its members and $5 and $10 if one reserves a spot beforehand or pays at the door.
Putegnat said the city and area history going back to the 1800s is depicted in the six buildings they either run or own.
Some buildings are strictly about history, while others are up for rent for social and for political events such as The Alonso Building, a residence built in 1877 for Manuel Alonso, a Spaniard who died in 1922.
For additional information about BHA, the Historical Happy Hours or about any other activities please contact Putegnat or Dave Parsons, the education and membership coordinator who works at the front desk of the Brownsville Heritage Complex, which includes the Stillman House Museum. The telephone number is 956-541-5560.
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