About the Brownsville Historical Association
Preserving South Texas Heritage Through Seven Historic Sites
The Brownsville Historical Association's mission is to preserve, educate, and promote the history, heritage, and cultural arts of Brownsville, Texas and the Rio Grande Valley through exhibitions, educational programs, publications, cultural events, and extensive archival collections. The BHA operates an impressive network of seven historic properties located throughout the Mitte Cultural District and downtown Brownsville: the Stillman House Museum, Heritage Museum, Market Square Research Center, Historic Alonso Building, Historic Brownsville Museum, the Old City Cemetery, and the Laureles Ranch House Museum.
The Market Square vaults house one of the largest South Texas photograph collections in the Rio Grande Valley, along with fine art, historical costumes, furniture, sculpture, and numerous historical documents. The BHA offers over 20 temporary exhibitions annually, showcasing select artifacts from these extensive collections for educational purposes. Special collections include a Department 56 Miniature Holiday Village with over 500 ceramic pieces donated by the Gloor family, representing various themed Christmas collections dating from 1976.
The association provides diverse programming including lectures, book signings, youth summer camps, musical presentations, hands-on workshops, historic trolley tours, walking tours, traveling exhibitions, teaching trunks, and regional cooking workshops. Popular programs include gardening workshops focused on Brownsville's subtropical climate, Historical Happy Hours at various museums, ghost hunts with RGV Paranormal Investigators at historical buildings, and partnerships with the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley. Research services are available by appointment with fees waived for UTRGV and Texas Southmost College faculty, students, and qualified scholars, making the BHA's extensive archives accessible to serious researchers.
Plan Your Visit
The Heritage Museum and Stillman House are located at 1325 E. Washington Street in Brownsville. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is $6 for adults, $4 for seniors, $2 for students, and free for children under 6, members, military, and BISD students and teachers. A Day Pass includes admission to the Historic Brownsville Museum, Heritage Museum, and Stillman House. For information about tours, programs, and research services, call (956) 541-5560 or visit brownsvillehistory.org.
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