SELF-IMPROVEMENT THROUGH READING

In 1903, a gathering of Uvalde civic leaders (all women) were determined to make both self and civic improvements in this Hill Country Trail community and, in order to facilitate those improvements, to establish the town’s first public library. They called their organization El Progreso Club and their efforts exceeded all expectations. Today, El Progreso Memorial Library serves the city of Uvalde, Uvalde County, and the Uvalde Independent School District. It also provides archival facilities, known as the Virginia Wood Davis Archives, for a ten-county area including Edwards, Real, Val Verde, Kinney, Medina, Frio, Zavala, Maverick, Dimmit, and La Salle Counties. The archives include documents, manuscripts, photographs, and materials about the surrounding region’s families, businesses and organizations. The library has also opened The Weisman Museum of Southwest Texas, inaugurating the new museum with its first exhibition titled “Green Gold – Farming in the Winter Garden Region”. Uvalde is home to both history and commercial enterprise where visitors may shop at a variety of antique and collectible stores, enjoy traditional Texas-style dining, and pick up picnic supplies on their way to one of Texas’ favorite summer destinations – Garner State Park just thirty minutes north of Uvalde on Highway 83.