Category Archives: Historical Museums

USS Lexington, Corpus Christi, TX

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April 3, 2020

USS LEXINGTON

We like history and historical museums. One of the museums we saw was the USS Lexington in the harbor at Corpus Christi, Texas. Corpus Christi was a good halfway stopping point between south Texas and Columbus, so we took a day to visit it.

Ray’s dad was in the Navy for 20 years, and ended his service on the USS Hornet, an aircraft carrier like this one. The USS Hornet is docked in Alameda, California just west of Oakland. Touring this ship makes one appreciate the work and dedication of men who serve in our Navy.

The ship is so long, it took two photos to get the entire length.

There are 5 self-guided tours covering 100,000 square feet and 11 decks. After watching a short film about the ship in the Mega theater in 3D, we toured the flight deck. Here we could see where the high-speed catapult launched the aircraft. We learned the stories of men who flew the vintage aircraft displayed on the deck, and saw the massive guns used in battle.

This gives you an idea of how high the deck is off the water.

The Foc’sle or Forecatle tour is the forward upper deck area that extends to the bow. What you see here is where the ship is guided.

The interior of the ship is a maze of “tunnels”.

Being a mom of 5, I was fascinated by this!

The maps to guide the ship across the vast oceans.

This is the hangar deck. This is where the planes were stored. Today it houses many exhibits along with a gift shop and snack bar.

I had to include these photos of the bridge being built and the harbor.

Yes, the water is green.

We enjoyed our day touring the ship. It gave us lots of exercise climbing ladders and walking the hallways. One caution for anyone who parks in the parking lot across from the museum; be sure you have a locking gas cap for your vehicle. We had nearly a full tank of diesel fuel stolen while we were in the museum.

Categories: RV Travel, Texas Travel Tags: Corpus Christi, Full Time RVing, Navy history, Navy Museums, Places to see in Corpus Christi, RVing, South Texas History, South Texas places to see, South Texas sites to see, Texas, Texas History, Texas Museums, Texas places to see, USS Lexington

Iwo Jima Monument and Museum

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March 25, 2020

Located in Harlingen, Texas, on the campus of the Marine Military Academy is the Iwo Jima Monument. This full-sized plaster model was used to create the molds for the bronze statue in Arlington National Cemetery. This working model was donated to the Military Academy (across the street) as an inspiration to the cadets. The humid climate of south Texas is the perfect atmosphere to preserve this plaster statue. The figures are 32 feet high raising a 78 foot high flag pole. The cloth flag flies 24 hours a day.

We visited the museum located near the statue and watched a very interesting film about the taking of Iwo Jima.  The airstrip on the island served as a landing base for many US planes on their way back from Japan bombing runs. It is estimated that the island base saved more lives of pilots and their crews than were lost in the initial battle for the island. The island was given back to Japan in 1965. Many men who fought there thought it should always remain in the possession of the USA because of the huge cost of lives lost there.

Iwo Jima Museum

The statue is impressive. Near the grounds is the burial place of one of the five men who raised the flag. He was only 19 years old when he died, just days after the raising of the flag. Inscribed around the outside of the stone foundation are all the wars the marine corp has fought from the founding of our nation until present. Afghanistan is one of them with no ending date. It would be wonderful to see the end date inscribed someday soon.

The following photos show more detail of the statue. The sky was a beautiful blue the first day we visited the statue, but the flag was tangled up on the flag pole. The second time we visited, it was overcast and gray. But the flag was flying beautifully and I wanted to capture that. Plus, I wanted to get more details of the statue.

You can read more about this statue here: https://www.mma-tx.org/about-us/Iwo-Jima-Monument/

Categories: Airstream Travel, RV Travel, Texas Travel Tags: Harlingen, Iwo Jima, Iwo Jima Monument, Iwo Jima Museum, Marine Military Academy, Marines, Semper Fidelis Iwo Jima, South Texas History, South Texas Museums, South Texas places to see, Texas, Texas places to see, US Marine Monument, US Marines

Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum, Texas

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March 18, 2020

Harlingen Arts and Heritage Museum

Harlingen is a one of the many cities in the south part of Texas in the Rio Grande Valley (RGV). We explored this museum one afternoon. To my delight, in their rotating art exhibit, they were hosting quilt contest winners from The National Quilt Museum in the Oak Leaf and Reel Competition. We were given 3D glasses that turned the quilts into a unique display. There is a nice gift shop in this building also.

If you step outside into the courtyard, the museum has more buildings arranged in a circle displaying the heritage of the city of Harlingen. These included: the 1904 Lon C. Hill home (the first home built in Harlingen); Harlingen’s first hospital (1923-1925); a replica of the Paso Real Stagecoach Inn (originally built between 1850-1860); and the Historical Museum, which chronicles early Valley life and Texas History. (It was closed for renovations.)

Stagecoach Inn

The Stagecoach Inn housed the General Store and Post Office also.

  Courtyard showing the Stagecoach Inn

The General Store

Home of Harlingen’s Founder Lon C. Hill

Inside the home of Lon C. Hill, you will find many rooms of time period exhibits including antique glassware and dishes, dresses, period furniture and more. You might even see Mr. Hill lurking in the hallway.

   Inside home of Lon C. Hill

 South Texas is cotton country. This is a dress worn by the “Cotton Queen” of 1962.

This is the home office of Lon C. Hill, founder of Harlingen.

Mr. Hill lurks in the hallway.

Harlingen’s First Hospital

Categories: Texas Travel

Port Isabel Museums

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February 24, 2020

Previously, we visited the lighthouse at Port Isabel and the museum. Nearby were two more museums. We visited one, but at the time, the other museum was about to close. We decided to come back and visit it later. If you visit all three museums, you can save money by buying a Combination Site Ticket. Combination tickets are available at all three museum sites.

The first museum we visited was the Port Isabel Lighthouse Museum.

 The Port Isabel Historical Museum is located a block or so away from the lighthouse. It’s tricky to find the entrance. The museums are beside and behind the parking lot to the Event and Cultural Center Building. This photo is taken at the back of the building. The back is actually where the entrance is. Walk around to the left and the door is under the awning.

The Port Isabel Historical Museum houses exhibits on two levels of the building. It is mostly collections of Mexican artifacts from the US/Mexican War.

 To find the third museum, Treasure of the Gulf Museum, follow the arrows on the sidewalk at the back of the Historical Museum.

Below is what the entrance of Treasures of the Gulf Museum looks like. Do you see any signs?

 Treasures of the Gulf Museum spotlights history and artifacts from three 1554 Spanish shipwrecks.

While we were there, we also saw this clock tower and inscription near the parking lot. I thought it made a nice photo, and the inscription is a good admonishment to us about good government.

You can find out more about these museums here: Museums of Port Isabel

Categories: Airstream Travel, RV Travel, Texas Travel Tags: Brownsville, Museums of Port Isabel, Places to see near Brownsville, Places to see near Port Isable, Port Isabel, Port Isabel Historical Museum, Port Isabel Lighthouse, Port Isabel Lighthouse Museum, Port Isabel Tower Clock, Port Isabel Treasures of the Gulf Museum, South Texas places to see, South Texas travel, Texas, Texas History, Texas Museums, Texas places to see, Texas sites to see, Texas travel