Brown Plaza and Casa de la Cultura
Nestled in a bend of San Felipe Creek, the area surrounding Brown Plaza has been a gathering place for hundreds of years, as Native Americans and Spanish settlers were drawn to the San Felipe Springs. Later, it became the heart of Del Rio’s historic San Felipe barrio. Today, Del Rio residents and visitors now gather here for concerts, rallies, and celebrations. Dedicated on Cinco de Mayo in 1908, the plaza is now a central location to celebrate this holiday annually.
The plaza and its bandstand were restored in 1969, and several historic buildings remain on the square and surrounding blocks. A mural between the 1891 Amado Gutierrez Building and 1910 Santos S. Garcia Building depicts memories of students growing up on the Texas-Mexico border.
On the square at Brown Plaza, Casa de la Cultura has promoted Mexican American heritage through diverse classes and events since the late 1970s. Classes include Latino aerobics, piñata-making, guitar, and English language, while traditional Mexican celebrations such as Dia de los Muertos and the Christmas Posada y Tamalada share the schedule with musical events and revolving art exhibits.