The Museum of the Coastal Bend at Victoria College is pleased to present an exhibit of thirty-one framed photographs and a slide show of 300+ images of El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail. The exhibit includes images of Spanish mission and presidio sites in Victoria and Goliad.
The exhibit, on display at MCB from April 14 – May 28, showcases breathtaking images that offer a glimpse of the significance and beauty of the historic resources associated with El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail. Professor Christopher Talbot of Stephen F. Austin State University’s School of Art is the photographer who captured outstanding images of trail swales, acequias, river crossings, forts, missions, presidios, and other original remnants along the old route. His work is supported by Stephen F. Austin University and the National Trails Intermountain Region’s Challenge Cost Share Program.
El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trial was designated by Congress in 2004 to commemorate the significant historic routes extending from the international border at the Rio Grande to the easternmost section of the Spanish province of Texas in Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana.
The trail long pre-dates the establishment of the United States. In the 1680s when the Spanish began to travel regularly into Texas and western Louisiana, they followed already existing American Indian trails. The Spanish used these paths to reach areas where they established missions and presidios. Eventually, armies and immigrants followed these routes which led to Euro-American settlements across the two states. Many of these roads continued to be used and became part of modern highway systems. In many places, Spanish names for roads and landscape features have been retained. Physical remains of the trail are testimony of a rich heritage and to the significant events that occurred along the trail.
This traveling exhibit is touring locations throughout Texas and Louisiana, beginning at the Villa Antigua Border Heritage Museum in Laredo, TX and most recently at Fort Jesup in Many, LA.
The Museum of the Coastal Bend is located on the campus of The Victoria College, Victoria, TX, at the corner of East Red River and Ben Jordan. Viewing hours are Tuesday – Saturday, 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Admission is $3.50 for adults, $2.50 for senior citizens, and $2.00 for students ages 4 years through 8th grade. Admission is free for museum members, faculty, staff and students of The Victoria College and the University of Houston – Victoria, and for children under 4 years of age.
For more information, please contact the Museum of the Coastal Bend — visit our website www.museumofthecoastalbend.org, phone 361-582-2511 or email sue.prudhomme@victoriacollege.edu.
