Viva la Historia!
Our Top 10 Under-the-Radar Hispanic Heritage Sites
Hispanic history in Texas features more than just missions and murals (although who can resist the picturesque ruins of a Spanish mission?). But sometimes, a seasoned heritage traveler longs to see something new. And of course, by 'new', we mean very old...
From the final resting place of a famous curandero to the site of one of Texas' hippest food scenes (in the mid 1800s), we've assembled a list of destinations that reflect the diverse history and traditions that have helped define Hispanic heritage in Texas today.
1. Don Pedrito Jaramillo Shrine
Before the advent of modern medicine, early Hispanic Texans turned to natural healers called curanderos for their health and well being. In the late 19th century, many in South Texas would have sought out Don Pedrito Jaramillo, or the "Healer of Los Olmos." Today, his final resting place is a pilgrimage site for those who still believe in Don Pedro's healing powers.
Paseo La Plaza
4. La Sal Del Rey
Named to honor the King of Spain, this salt lake has been harvested for centuries by Native Americans and later by Spanish explorers and settlers, who used a well-worn route known as the salt trail, crossing the Rio Grande River at an ancient ford at the present-day site of Los Ebanos Ferry.
La Mujer Obrera
The Reign of the Chili Queens
Once the vegetable vendors and hay wagons departed at the end of the day, the Chili Queens arrived at Military Plaza to set up their food stands. By nighttime, crowds gathered around the mesquite fires over which the Queens prepared chili con carne, enchiladas, tamales, and more, as diners ate at makeshift tables lit by oil lamp.
Read more about the history of the Chili Queens or try one of their chile con carne recipes courtesy of the Witte Museum archives!
Founded in 1915, Rio Vista Farm initially housed homeless adults and orphaned children, who could learn skills like gardening and canning, and earned money picking cotton in the nearby fields. In the 1950s and 1960s, the farm became a processing center for the Bracero Program, a U.S.-Mexico initiative that brought Mexican laborers to work on U.S. farms. The historic district remains surrounded by the same cotton fields that once sustained it.