Page 41 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide 2026-2027 Brownsville Farmers’ Market Start your weekend with fresh finds and fresh produce brought to you by the farmers, ranchers, and artisans from your area. Locally grown and crafted, the Brownsville Farmers’ Market showcases a variety of vendors featuring the very best our community has to offer, including seasonal produce, local honey, farm fresh eggs, home baked goods, kettle corn, and much more. Open from 9 a.m. to 12 p.m. every Saturday, the market is located in the heart of the Mitte Cultural District at Linear Park, 1534 E. 6th St., just a short walk from the Gladys Porter Zoo. For more information on the Brownsville Farmers’ Market, visit https://www.btxwc.org/ farmers-market. Costumes of the Americas Museum The Costumes of the Americas Museum plays a vivid role in the enrichment of the Mitte Cultural and Education Center in Brownsville. The museum features yearly rotating exhibits of authentic dress and artifacts, some over 100 years old, from the Americas and beyond. The museum is located at 1004 E. 6th St. in Brownsville. The hours are Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday, Mondays, and most holidays. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors 55+, $2 for students, and free for children under 6 years old, veterans, and BISD students. For more information call (956) 525-7252 or visit the Facebook page. Camille Playhouse In the heart of the Mitte Cultural District at Dean Porter Park, the Camille Lightner Playhouse has brought entertaining and inspiring live stage performances to Brownsville and the surrounding community for over 60 years! Call (956) 542-8900 for upcoming events, shows, admissions and auditions, or visit the website at www.camilleplayhouse.net. Fort Brown/UTRGV As the primary U.S. military establishment at the mouth of the Rio Grande, Fort Brown became a major prize for both sides during the Civil War. The fort was built by General Zachary Taylor in 1846, making it the first major U.S. military post built along the Rio Grande. Fort Brown declined in importance as Mexico stabilized following its revolutionary period (1910-1917) and local law enforcement agencies replaced the military in policing the border. In September 1944 it was formally decommissioned when the 124th Cavalry was sent to Burma during World War II. While most of Fort Brown is gone, some of the old barracks have been converted into classrooms for the University of Texas-Rio Grande Valley. A frame home where General “Black Jack” Pershing, Charles Lindberg, Abner Doubleday (creator of baseball), and Col. Robert E. Lee stayed at one time or another has been preserved. An old commissary that had a jail in the basement remains on the campus along with a bachelor’s officer’s quarters, the post chapel, the morgue, and an old hospital. There are Historic Walking Tours held in Brownsville, including one that features Fort Brown. Check www.brownsvillehistory.org for information. To learn more about Fort Brown’s history, visit www.tshaonline.org/handbook/entries/fort-brown. Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park Palo Alto National Historical Park interprets the site of the first major battle of the US - Mexican War. On May 8, 1846, General Zachary Taylor and his 2,300 men army engaged 3,200 Mexican troops under the command of General Mariano Arista in a fierce cannon battle on the coastal prairie. Today, the park preserves the battlefield and provides a visitor center, museum exhibits, video presentation, and interpretive trails that explain how the battle played out and the importance of the battle and the war that followed. In addition to its importance as a historical site, Palo Alto Battlefield is a significant natural area. The site is home to a variety of plant and animal life unique to the Rio Grande delta. Park gates are open daily 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily, except for Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day. Admission is free. For information about the Visitor Center hours, call (956) 541-2785. The park is located just nine miles from downtown Brownsville, at 7200 Paredes Line Rd., (FM 1847, just north of the intersection of FM 511). For more information about the park or upcoming events, visit the website www.nps.gov/paal.
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