Sights and landmarks in Brownsville

Sights and landmarks in Brownsville

1. See

   Boca Chica State Park

   Isolated beach across South Padre Island. It is known for its sandy dunes, quiet atmosphere and scenery. Regarded as a hidden gem by many tourists. Known as Boca Chica Beach to locals.

2. See

   Brazos Island State Park

   Beach north of Boca Chica State Park. Great for camping and fishing.

3. See

   Brownsville Historical Association

   Main office in charge of operating five historical buildings in Downtown Brownsville. Buildings include the Heritage Museum & Preservation Center, Stillman House, Market Square Research Center, Old City Cemetery Center and The Historic Alonso Building.

4. See

   Brownsville Museum of Fine Arts

   Beautiful arts museum focused on the works of local and Latin American painters.

5. See

   Children's Museum of Brownsville

   Museum involving hands-on activities, events and workshops for children.

   $8; free for children 1 and under

6. See

   Commemorative Air Force Museum

   Air force museum displaying collections of aircraft from World War II. Hosts the annual AirFiesta in mid-February.

   Adults: $6, seniors (55+): $5, kids 12-18: $3, kids under 11: Free

7. See

   Costumes of the Americas

   Museum housing one of the largest collections of traditional clothing worn by indigenous people in Latin American countries.

   $2 per person, children under 10: free

8. See

   Fort Brown

   Fort Brown Memorial Center

   A military post used during the late 19th century and early 20th century. It is regarded as one of the most haunted sites in the city.

   Free

9. See

   Galeria 409

   Art gallery showcasing work from artists in the Rio Grande Valley. It is a two-story building with multiple doors painted in green. Windows are also painted in said color.

10. See

    Gladys Porter Zoo

    Popular zoo among locals and tourists. Showcases a variety of species from around the world and features a reptile house and an aquatic center. It is the only zoo south of Corpus Christi and the Rio Grande Valley.

    Adults $11, children (2-13) $8, children (under 2) free, seniors (over 65) $9.50

11. See

    Historic Brownsville Museum

    Museum displaying the history of Brownsville up to the first half of the 20th century. It uses pictures, maps, along with other visuals to document different aspects of the city from street views to education.

    Adults: $5, seniors: $4, students: $2, children under 6 and BHA members: free

12. See

    Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge

    In nearby Los Fresnos. Very popular wildlife refuge where many different species can be spotted from the bobcat to the endangered ocelot. The refuge area is protected by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

    Daily 7AM-7:30PM

13. See

    Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge

    Situated in nearby La Feria, is a popular birding and wildlife sanctuary with over of dedicated land for animals and other species to live in. Resacas (or floodplains) can be found throughout the site.

    Free

14. See

    Market Square Research Center

    The predecessor to La Plaza at Brownsville, the current terminal center in Brownsville. It used to be a terminal center for buses and an open air market. The building was constructed in 1850 and provides many photographs, costumes and an art collection. It is undergoing a multi-million renovation that will include a walkable street, life-size chess boards, fountains and bike stations.

15. See

    Old Brulay Plantation

    Plantation House No. 1

    A cotton-turned-sugar plantation used during the American Civil War. It closed approximately in 1910 when a Cuban tariff was removed. The home belonged to a French immigrant named George Paul Bruley.

16. See

    Old City Cemetery Center

    One of the oldest cemeteries in the city. This was the burial location for many soldiers during the Civil War and Mexican-American War as early as the 1830s. Ghost tours are available.

    Free; tours: $7 (for groups of 14 or less), $4 (for groups 15 or more)

17. See

    Palmito Ranch Battlefield

    The last battle of the American Civil War. It is close to the US-Mexico border. There is much speculation that the site is haunted.

    Free

18. See

    Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Park

    The site of Battle of Palo Alto. Indoor museum includes artillery and a gift shop. A tour is provided along a walkway to the actual battle site with replicas of the artillery used in the war scattered throughout the place.

    Free

19. See

    Puente Art Studio

    Studio used to teach art classes to children. Admission for this is $20. Also has a gallery with exhibitions. To its exterior, windows and doors are paint in brown, a similar trend with galleries and bars in this area.

    Mon-Sat 10AM-6PM·Free

20. See

    Resaca de la Palma National Battlefield

    The site of Battle of Resaca de la Palma. A beautiful candle-lighting ceremony takes place each year around mid-November to honor the fallen victims of the war. Each candle is placed in the parameter of the site.

    Free

21. See

    Rusteberg Art Gallery

    Gallery with monthly installations and exhibitions. Primarily used by local artists. Most artwork draw influence from the Spanish culture that is integrated in the city.

22. See

    Sabal Palm Sanctuary

    Butterfly and birdwatching center. One of the last locations in the Rio Grande Valley with an abundance in profuse grove of Sabal Palms.

    Adults $5, children under 12 $3

23. See

    SpaceX South Texas Launch Site

    Starbase

    Aerospace facility launching Starship from Boca Chica State Park. Although the launch frequency has been lower than in early 2021, there are a lot of Starships and Super Heavy on display there. Many launch equipments can also be seen, such as the launch tower with steel arms and eight white tanks holding propellants, liquid oxygen and water.

24. See

    Spacecraft Tracking and Astronomical Research into Gigahertz Astrophysical Transient Emission

    Acronym is STARGATE

    In collaboration with SpaceX, this will be a radio frequency technology park directly across the SpaceX facility which is expected to commence construction in 2018. The facility will be used by researchers for technology and scientific research.

25. See

    The Historic Alonso Building

    A French and Spanish influence building popular for rentals and events. Includes an art gallery inside, a pool and tables outside for dining.

26. See

    The Stillman House

    The home of several important figures in Brownsville and Mexico. Charles Stillman, the settler who founded Brownsville lived here, as well as Mexican presidents and generals.

    Free

27. See

    University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

    Beautiful campus with a bridge overlooking a resaca (or floodplain) and many palm trees. The bridge is a popular photography landmark for tourists and locals. Campus was founded in 2015 after University of Texas at Brownsville and University of Texas Pan-American merged. There are trails going through the university. Check their website for any events or activities happening around the city. Most events are held in Downtown Brownsville and focus on the arts along with musical performances.

    24 hours

Listings from the Wikivoyage guide to Brownsville (CC BY-SA 4.0).