Stories from the Rio Grande

Museum CEO Francisco Guajardo discusses the history of water usage along the Rio Grande during the Rio Grande Valley Utility Conference in McAllen, Texas, on Nov. 6, 2024.

Museum CEO Francisco Guajardo presents on the history of McAllen at the McAllen Chamber of Commerce.

Museum CEO Francisco Guajardo presents on record preservation with the Cameron County Clerk's Office.

Let’s tell the story of gold that was buried under a house during the Great Depression and then uncovered by a plumber many years later. It is an exciting story and yet under told story in South Texas history that highlights not only a family that buried the gold, but a story of unprecedented philanthropic generosity in the history of South Texas and in American history.

The content for this session comes from a family archival collection that was donated to the Museum of South Texas History in 2022.

This was recorded during FESTIBA on Friday, March 1, within Dr. García's Gold exhibit.

The story of the Underground Railroad, as it moved through South Texas and into northeastern Mexico, is shaped particularly through family stories along the border. It is an under told part of American history.

Museum CEO Francisco Guajardo and archivist Melissa Peña explore and share the history of the Underground Railroad to find commonalities and differences that may be geographical, political, cultural, and social.

This was recorded during FESTIBA on Friday, March 1, at 10 a.m. in the museum's steamboat mini theater.

The Museum of South Texas History hosted the spotlight exhibit "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veterans Day Exhibit" during November 2022.

Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña curated this exhibit with personal items from four veterans: Gina Guajardo, Jerry Arteaga, José Villarreal and Jessica Villarreal. The veterans also shared their stories through a video produced by the MOSTHistory Communications team, which inspired more recordings of other individuals with similar experiences. This podcast season will feature veterans from across South Texas.

In this fourth episode of season five, Communications Officer Pamela Morales de Hendricks and Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña discuss the exhibit and the veterans who were featured.

Photos of the spotlight exhibit, "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veteran's Day Exhibit" -- https://mosthistory.org/photo-gallery

The Museum of South Texas History hosted the spotlight exhibit "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veterans Day Exhibit" during November 2022.

Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña curated this exhibit with personal items from four veterans: Gina Guajardo, Jerry Arteaga, José Villarreal and Jessica Villarreal. The veterans also shared their stories through a video produced by the MOSTHistory Communications team, which inspired more recordings of other individuals with similar experiences. This podcast season will feature veterans from across South Texas.

In this fourth episode of season five, Communications Officer Pamela Morales de Hendricks and Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña discuss the exhibit and the veterans who were featured.

Photos of the spotlight exhibit, "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veteran's Day Exhibit" -- https://mosthistory.org/photo-gallery/

The Museum of South Texas History hosted the spotlight exhibit "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veterans Day Exhibit" during November 2022.

Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña curated this exhibit with personal items from four veterans: Gina Guajardo, Jerry Arteaga, José Villarreal and Jessica Villarreal. The veterans also shared their stories through a video produced by the MOSTHistory Communications team, which inspired more recordings of other individuals with similar experiences. This podcast season will feature veterans from across South Texas.

In this third episode of season five, Communications Officer Pamela Morales de Hendricks and Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña discuss the exhibit and the veterans who were featured.

View the Hometown Heroes of South Texas spotlight exhibit photos -- https://mosthistory.org/photo-gallery/

The Museum of South Texas History hosted the spotlight exhibit "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veterans Day Exhibit" during November 2022.

Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña curated this exhibit with personal items from four veterans: Gina Guajardo, Jerry Arteaga, José Villarreal and Jessica Villarreal. The veterans also shared their stories through a video produced by the MOSTHistory Communications team, which inspired more recordings of other individuals with similar experiences. This podcast season will feature veterans from across South Texas.

In this second episode of season five, Communications Officer Pamela Morales de Hendricks interviews veteran Juan Ramon Garcia, who participated in the Vietnam War. This interview took place in the VFW in McAllen, Texas.

Warning: This interview contains descriptive war scenes that may be uncomfortable for some listeners. Listener discretion is advised.

The Museum of South Texas History hosted the spotlight exhibit "Hometown Heroes of South Texas: A Veterans Day Exhibit" during November 2022.

Exhibits & Collections Coordinator Melissa Peña curated this exhibit with personal items from four veterans: Gina Guajardo, Jerry Arteaga, José Villarreal and Jessica Villarreal. The veterans also shared their stories through a video produced by the MOSTHistory Communications team, which inspired more recordings of other individuals with similar experiences. This podcast season will feature veterans from across South Texas.

In this first episode of season five, Communications Officer Pamela Morales de Hendricks interviews veteran Reynaldo Leal, who enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps in the early 2000s. He shares stories on joining the military and participating in the Iraq War. Currently he lives in the Rio Grande Valley with his family.

Links to Reynaldo's work:

Instagram

IMDb

Self-portrait at The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston