Harlingen, Texas, Cameron County. (original) (raw)
Arroyo Colorado
1918-1920 photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com
Another city born of the railroad, Harlingen was named after a Dutch town with a very good system of canals. At the time of its founding (1910), founder Lon C. Hill considered commerce to be a new town's lifeblood. Tourism per se was unknown except for the Holyland and Mecca.
Although today the highways have replaced the planned canal system, the beautiful Arroyo Colorado is still a town attraction, if only for the migratory birds (the first Winter Texans). We hope the city will keep the old Iron Bridge over the Arroyo.
Harlingen's biggest asset is space. Streets are wide and driving is easier on visitors who must slow down while looking for certain attractions. Even so, the city through its Historic Society has arranged to put many of the towns earliest buildings in one place.
The Rio Grande Valley Museum
and Hospital Museum is at Boxwood and Raintree Streets. For a city map, go by the Chamber of Commerce at 311 Tyler Street. Harlingen is also a site for a Texas Travel Information Center. Here one can pick up brochures for all Valley destinations including Harlingen. Then you'll know where to find the Chamber. This center is announced in advance on Hwy 77 and is at the Intersection of US 83 and 77.
The Familiar Six Flags of Texas
Photo courtesy Ken Rudine, March 2008
Harlingen has a lot of good places to eat, and finding a good hotel is easy. Everyone in the Valley is aware of the tropical vegetation, and Harlingen businesses believe in showing it off, whether it's a hotel patio or the landscaping of a fast food restaurant. Many restaurants are family owned and not just by the current generation. In addition to above average service, many feature specialties you can't get anywhere else. There are several extremely scenic neighborhoods, and we usually don't recommend sightseeing in residential areas. We don't recommend them for the houses, but once again for the vegetation.
We noticed the benches at a downtown park were reminiscent of the ones in Mexico. Closer examination showed that they were from Mexico and had the City Crest included in the design. Someone went to some trouble and we've tried to find out where, who, and how. Whoever you are, we appreciate your efforts. It's a subtle detail that a lot of towns in Texas would enjoy having.
Harlingen makes an excellent "base camp" for explorations around theEastern Valley. As you travel further west, to examine the charms of Rio Grande City and Roma, you might consider avoiding a long drive back, but it's very tempting to stay in Harlingen.
Harlingen Main Street
1918-1920 photo courtesy texasoldphotos.com
Harlingen Historical Marker:
(City Hall, Commerce Street and Tyler Street, Harlingen)
HARLINGEN
Platted 1904; incorporated 1910. Named for town in Holland, by founder Lon C. Hill, Sr. (1862-1935), promoter of railroad and early business enterprises. Here were organized the first irrigation district and first navigation district in Rio Grande Valley. Center for finance, wholesale business, commerce and medical services. Site of Harlingen State Tuberculosis Hospital, Rio Grande State Center for Mental Health and Mental Retardation, Valley Baptist Hospital. Home of Marine Military Academy, "Confederate Air Force" Museum and the lower valley historical museum.
1969
Harlingen Area Attractions
- The Arroyo Queen - This is a very nice tour (four times daily) Thursday through Sunday. Reservations are required. Do not confuse this tour with the well known Mexican crossdressing actor Anthony Queen.
- Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge - FM 106-25 miles East of Harlingen you'll find this 45,000 acre sanctuary. Best times are early or late in the day. Year round there's something to be remembered for the observant.
- Historic attractions beside the previously mentioned Rio Grande Valley Museum and Hospital Museum include the Port Isabel Historical Museum, 956-943-7602.
- Harlingen Hotels > Book Here
The Iwo Jima Memorial Statue
near the Marine Military Academy in Harlingen
Photo courtesy Barclay Gibson, June 2014
See WWII
Harlingen Cemetery Historical Marker
1501 South F Street
TE photo
More Texas Cemeteries
Historical Marker:
Harlingen Cemetery
The Harlingen Cemetery came into legal existence in 1912. In that year, Lon C. Hill (1862-1935), founder of the city of Harlingen and president of the Harlingen land and water company, sold 7.6 acres of land at this site for one dollar to trustees of the Harlingen Cemetery. Burials, however, had taken place here since the death of Robert Keen Weems (1893-1909), a teenager who had come to this area in a freight car from Houston. Although weems was the first to be buried at the graveyard, others who had died earlier, such as George Dorough (1868-1904), were reinterred here.
This cemetery originally was divided into sections for babies, blacks, Anglos and Hispanics. These divisions have not been utilized since the cemetery was deeded to the city of Harlingen in 1947, but tombstone designs and grave decorations still reflect diverse cultural influences.
Leaders of the community that have been buried here include James Lockhart (d. 1947), the town's first postmaster; Horace Johnson (d. 1928), a Cameron County deputy sheriff; and David L. Hinojosa (d. 1932), a Texas Ranger.
The cemetery serves as a reminder of the surrounding community's rich heritage.
(1984, 1997)
Harlingen, Texas Landmarks
People
- The Fleeting Fame and Lasting Legacy of Bobby Morrow by Clay Coppedge
"By the time he died on May 30 of this year [2020] in Harlingen at age 84, few knew who he was and what he did in 1956. He was a forgotten hero. In the end, he seems to have preferred it that way. "
"He was elected to the Track and Field Hall of Fame in 1975 and the Texas Track and Field Coaching Hall of Fame in 2016."
Other Valley Destinations
- Take Hwy 77 South 26 miles to Brownsville and cross over to Matamoros.
- Or, take Hwy 83 West 30 miles toMcAllen, another 45 miles will take you to Roma, viaRio Grande City and the ferry at Los Ebanos.
Harlingen Tourist Information
Harlingen Area Chamber of Commerce
311 East Tyler, Harlingen, Texas 78550
956-423-5440 or 1-800-531-7346
http://www.harlingen.com/
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