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Alamo Museum
Alamo is a community with a big name and
a history that spans the era of bequeaths of
land from the Spanish crown to becoming the
gateway to the well-known Santa Ana National
Wildlife Refuge.
That history is being collected, preserved
and displayed at the Alamo Museum, 130 South
Eighth Street in the City of Alamo. Phone: 956-
961-4398; website: www.alamotexas.org (under
visitor information link); hours are 8 a.m. to noon
and 1 to 4 p.m. weekdays.
It is a history of early development of Camp
Ebenezer with a railroad depot in 1902 as a Maria Azpiazu, OMI, placed a replica of the im-
ranching and shipping operation. Colonizing fol- age of the Immaculate Conception of San Juan
lowed when the Alamo Land and Sugar Compa- de los Lagos in the parish Church at San Juan.
ny purchased 32,000 acres and excursion trains Such was the number of pilgrims that in 1954 a
brought prospective farmers to the area, housed new shrine was dedicated to house the image.
temporarily at the camp between 1914 and up Disaster struck the first shrine in 1970, when
until the 1930s. a pilot deliberately crashed his plane into the
To track the city’s history, this new museum building after giving notice to the air control tow-
opened two years ago, starting with the perma- er to warn the public because he was going to
nent Galleria of Angels. Currently visitors can crash his plane into a church or school some-
view a display of nearly 100 Madonna and Ma- where in the Valley.
donna and Child figurines along with the story of The faithful continued to make pilgrimages
the deadly 1940 truck-train collision, the history to the shrine, and the church grew in strength
of the Alamo Fire Department and collection of from the ashes of the old one. On April 19, 1980
every Alamo News issue from 1928 to 1982. the present shrine was dedicated. On June 12,
1999, the shrine was designated a “Minor Basil-
Andy Bowie Park ica” through official notification from the Vatican.
Those wishing to spend a day enjoying the The Basilica is located in San Juan, west of
waterfront on South Padre Island will want to N. Virgin de San Juan Blvd. on the south front-
visit Andy Bowie Park. The park features na- age road at Expressway 83. It is open from 6
ture trails and has a pavilion and picnic area a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday thru Saturday, and 6
along the beach. We also have BBQ pits and a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. There is a Hotel and
4 volleyball courts. The park is a must for bird Café on the Basilica grounds. For information or
watchers because of the many water birds that tours call 956-787-0033.
live in the area. The park is located at 7300 N.
Padre Blvd ¬– about 5 ½ miles from the Queen Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley
Isabella Causeway. The entrance fee is $10 per State Park
car. Hours are Monday-Sunday, Winter Season, See World Birding Center sites, p. 36
8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Summer Season 8 a.m. to
7 p.m. For information call 956-761-3704. Black Dragon Pirate Cruise
This popular tourist attraction is located in
Anzalduas Park the Laguna Madre, headquartered at Pirate’s
See Nature Sites, p. 39 Landing, 501 Maxam Street in Port Isabel. The
two-hour cruise features water gun fights, sword
Basilica of Our Lady of San Juan battles, canon firings, and tales of pirates, face
Del Valle – National Shrine painting, area history and lots of fun. In addi-
Devout Catholics often make pilgrimages to tion to the two-hour cruise, a half-hour pre-show
see the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our features events such as magic or knife show, or
Lady of San Juan de Valle in San Juan. The a fire manipulator. There are 3 daily shows in
Shrine got its start in 1949 when Father Jose the summer (11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., 2:30 p.m.-5 p.m.
Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide 2018-2019 Page 9