Telling Our Stories – Page 2 – Museums of Port Isabel

July 16, 2019

Museums Telling Our Stories: 7/25 Rio Grande Valley Civil War Trail

Rio Grande Valley Civil War Trail Presentations by Christopher L. Miller, Russell K. Skowronek & Roseann Bacha-Garza. Book sales & signing. Refreshements. Come discover Port Isabel’s role in the Civil War!

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present its “Telling Our Stories” Series of 2019 on Thursday, July 25th, at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, 308 Queen Isabella Blvd. @ 7pm.

• CHRISTOPHER L. MILLER is professor at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley and associate director of the CHAPS Program. He is the author of Prophetic Worlds: Indians and Whites on the Columbia Plateau. He resides in Edinburg, Texas.
• RUSSELL K. SKOWRONEK, professor of history and anthropology at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, is the founding director of the Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) program. He is the author of X Marks the Spot: The Archaeology of Piracy and HMS Fowey Lost . . . and Found! He resides in McAllen, Texas.
• ROSEANN BACHA-GARZA serves as program manager for the Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) Program at University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. She (with Miller and Skowronek) is the coauthor of Blue and Gray on the Border: The Rio Grande Valley Civil War Trail and coeditor of The Native American Peoples of South Texas. She resides in McAllen, Texas.

Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

‘Telling Our Stories” is an educational program aimed to preserving the heritage of the City of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre area. Our goals are to preserve and educate our local and natural history through presentations and exhibits. The program is co-sponsored by the Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Museum Foundation. “Telling Our Stories” is presented on the fourth (4Th) Thursday of each month from January through September at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. Admission is FREE.

Sponsored By: Laguna Madre Museum Foundation

For more information on Telling Our Stories or to help sponsor an event, contact Jeannie Marie A. Flores at (956) 943-7602 / (956) 943-0755 or visit www.portisabelmuseums.com or you may also send an email to jrivera@copitx.com.

April 15, 2019April 15, 2019

Telling Our Stories: “Point Isabel Masonic Lodge, No. 33” 4/25 7p, presented by Duane Rasmussen

“Point Isabel Masonic Lodge, No. 33”

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present its “Telling Our Stories” Series of 2019 on Thursday, April 25^th, at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, 308 Queen Isabella Blvd. @ 7pm. This month’s topic will be on “Point Isabel Masonic Lodge, No. 33” a presentation by Mr. Duane Rasmussen.

Mr. Duane A. Rasmussen has been a Valley resident as a Winter Texan with his late wife, Edith, since 1987 when they began coming first to McAllen, then Port Isabel and finally Laguna Vista. Duane’s Valley roots go back to his Uncle who came to Pharr in 1918 and became one of the salesmen who returned to Iowa to sell farmers on investing in the Valley where production could be three crops a year. Duane’s parents had been Winter Texans for many years because his mother was a sister of the Uncle.

In 1997, Duane & Edith moved permanently to Laguna Vista after selling out in Minnesota. He had been publisher of two weekly newspapers and a large shopping guide as well as owner of a large central printing plant before retiring in 1993.

Duane & Edith participated in several area organizations with the most interest in the American Legion, Masons and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation. Mr. Rasmussen had a double minor in History and political Science from the University of Minnesota, so history has always held his interest. His late wife, Edith passed in 2017, leaving Duane to his tasks with his favorite groups.

Mr. Rasmussen was raised to the Master Mason’s degree in 1950, his junior year in college and will reach the milestone of 70 years in 2020, if the Lord wills it.

Duane is a charter member of the Point Isabel Masonic Lodge, No. 33 which has a fascinating history in its early start in 1846 about the time the Mexican-American War began. He continues his memberships in Fidelity Lodge No. 39 in Austin, MN and in Forest Lake, MN, Lodge No. 344.

Please join us for an entertaining evening with Mr. Duane Rasmussen on a presentation on “Point Isabel Masonic Lodge, No. 33”, he will relate the early and current history of the Lodge as is known from the few records that are known to exist. All locals and visitors are welcomed to attend this free presentation. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

‘Telling Our Stories” is an educational program aimed to preserving the heritage of the City of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre area. Our goals are to preserve and educate our local and natural history through presentations and exhibits. The program is co-sponsored by the Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Museum Foundation. “Telling Our Stories” is presented on the fourth (4^Th) Thursday of each month from January through September at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. Admission is FREE.

Sponsored By: Museums of Port Isabel & Laguna Madre Museum Foundation

March 26, 2019March 27, 2019

Telling Our Stories: “Lessons of the Battle of Palo Alto” by Douglas Murphy 3/28 7p

“Lessons of the Battle of Palo Alto”

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present its “Telling Our Stories” Series of 2019 on Thursday, March 28^th, at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, 308 Queen Isabella Blvd. @ 7pm. This month’s topic will be on “Lessons of the Battle of Palo Alto” a presentation by Mr. Douglas Murphy.

Mr. Murphy is the Chief of Operations at Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park, managing daily operations of the site and public programs. He has researched and written extensively on the history of the Battle of Palo Alto and the U.S.-Mexican War. Presentation will provide an overview of the US-Mexican War on the Rio Grande and offer some aside on interesting takeaways from the actions.

Please join us for an entertaining evening with Mr. Douglas Murphy on a presentation on “Lessons of the Battle of Palo Alto”. All locals and visitors are welcomed to attend this free presentation. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

‘Telling Our Stories” is an educational program aimed to preserving the heritage of the City of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre area. Our goals are to preserve and educate our local and natural history through presentations and exhibits. The program is co-sponsored by the Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Museum Foundation. “Telling Our Stories” is presented on the fourth (4^Th) Thursday of each month from January through September at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. Admission is FREE.

Sponsored By: Mr. & Mrs. Ron Bliss

PI Historic Preservation Board Members

February 28, 2019

Telling Our Stories: Mary Laddis ~ “Ila Fox Loetscher” 2/28 7p

“Ila Fox Loetscher”

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present its “Telling Our Stories” Series of 2019 on Thursday, February 28^th, at the Port Isabel Event & Cultural Center, 309 East Railroad Ave. @ 7pm. This month’s topic will be on “Ila Fox Loetscher” a presentation by Ms. Mary Laddis.

Ms. Laddis became a permanent resident of South Padre Island in 1993 and became a Docent at the Docent at the Gladys Porter Zoo. In early 1994 Ms. Laddis learned about Ila Fox Loetscher, the Turtle Lady of South Padre Island and became a volunteer with Ila and her turtles.

Please join us for an entertaining evening with Ms. Mary Laddis on a presentation on “Ila Fox Loetscher”. All locals and visitors are welcomed to attend this free presentation. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

‘Telling Our Stories” is an educational program aimed to preserving the heritage of the City of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre area. Our goals are to preserve and educate our local and natural history through presentations and exhibits. The program is co-sponsored by the Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Museum Foundation. “Telling Our Stories” is presented on the fourth (4^Th) Thursday of each month from January through September at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. Admission is FREE.

Sponsored By: Museums of Port Isabel

September 17, 2018

Telling Our Stories ~ SHRIMPING INDUSTRY by Mrs. Carlett Boudreaux 9/27 7p

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present its “Telling Our Stories” Series of 2018 on Thursday, September 27^th, at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, 308 East Railroad Avenue at 7pm. This month’s topic will be on “Shrimping Industry” by Mrs. Carlette Boudreaux.

In 1949 at the age of 3, my father, mother and I moved to Brownsville, Texas from Morgan City, Louisiana. The Shrimping Industry brought us here. My father asked my mother if we could come for one season (which would have been about six months) and the season lasted 66 years. With some others, my fathers did a lot to improve the South Texas Shrimping Industry. As of today, he is still located in the Port Isabel area where he docked his first boat when we arrived.

Please join us for an entertaining evening with Mrs. Boudreaux on giving a presentation of the history of the “Shrimping Industry” with emphasis on the Port Isabel and local area. All locals and visitors are welcomed to attend this free presentation. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided.

‘Telling Our Stories” is an educational program aimed to preserving the heritage of the City of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre area. Our goals are to preserve and educate our local and natural history through presentations and exhibits. The program is co-sponsored by the Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Museum Foundation. “Telling Our Stories” is presented on the fourth (4^Th) Thursday of each month from January through September at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. Admission is FREE.

Sponsored By: Mr. Scott Friedman
“Pirate’s Landing Restaurant”

For more information on Telling Our Stories or to help sponsor an event, contact Jeannie Marie A. Flores at (956) 943-7602 or visit www.portisabelmuseums.com or you may also send an email to jrivera@copitx.com.