The Treasures of the Gulf Museum is open! Due to construction, please use the entrance on Highway 100.

The Museums of Port Isabel is a complex consisting of three diverse facilities, the Port Isabel Historic Museum, the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, and the Point Isabel Lighthouse. All three are within walking distance of each other and are open year around to the public.

PORT ISABEL LIGHTHOUSE
Constructed in 1852, the Point Isabel Lighthouse was built to protect and guide ships through Brazos Santiago Pass and the barrier islands. In 1952, the Lighthouse was opened as a State Park and remains the only lighthouse on the Texas Gulf coast open to the public. The Lighthouse Keeper’s Cottage which is on the grounds of the Lighthouse, is open to the public and houses the Chamber of Commerce and the Port Isabel Visitors Center. There is no admission charge to the Keepers Cottage. Lighthouse tickets can be purchased at the Keepers Cottage or at the Lighthouse. A combination ticket is available. Last ticket sold at 4:30 p.m. or 1/2 hour before closing.

• Summer Hours: Sunday – Thursday 9a – 5p. Friday & Saturday 11a – 8p
• Winter Hours: Daily 9a – 5p

Keepers Cottage Hours (year around): Monday – Friday 9a – 5p. Saturday 10a – 4p. 421 E. Queen Isabella Blvd., Port Isabel. 956/943-2262.

PORT ISABEL HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Port Isabel Historical Museum is a state-of-the-art facility located in the Champion Building. Built in 1899 as a dry goods store and residence, it now houses two exhibit levels, a theater, gift shop and one of the largest collections of Mexican artifacts from the U.S.-Mexican War. The facade features the famous ‘fish mural’ painted in 1906 by a local fisherman. Last ticket sold at 3:30 p.m.

• Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10a – 4p. 317 E. Railroad Ave., Port Isabel. 956/943-7602.

TREASURES OF THE GULF MUSEUM
Treasures of the Gulf Museum spotlights three 1554 Spanish shipwrecks. Meeting their fate just 30 miles north of Port isabel, they are brought to life with murals, artifacts and hands-on activities. Also featured is a Children’s Discovery Lab, Ship theatre and Nautical Gift Shop. Last ticket sold at 3:30 p.m.

• Hours: Tuesday – Saturday 10a to 4p. 317 E. Railroad Ave., Port Isabel. 956/943-7602

Edward P. Meza presents “The History of the Port Isabel Museums”

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present its “Telling Our Stories” Series of 2012 on Thursday, May 24th, at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, 317 East Railroad Avenue at 6:30pm. This month’s topic will be on “The History of Port Isabel Museums”, presented by Edward P. Meza.

Edward P. Meza, born in Alice, Texas and raised in Corpus Christi. Meza graduated from Texas A & M University in College Station with a B.S. in Museum Studies under the Wildlife and Fisheries Department. Mr. Meza worked in the Museum field for 20 years, as a Executive Director for the Grayson County Historical Museum in Sherman, Texas, Curator of Education and Programs for the African American Museum in Dallas, Texas, Executive Director for the Webb County Historical Foundation in Laredo, Texas and Director of Historical Preservation for the Port Isabel.

Meza was selected to attend a two week Leadership training course at the Smithsonian Institute in 1990, as one of twenty participants from throughout the United States. Meza has also served as chair for the following organizations, Chair of the Grayson Historical Commission and Sherman Historical Society, President of the Northeast Texas Museum Association, Member at Large for Texas Association of Museums, Board member of the Dallas Historical Society, Chair of the Webb County Historical Commission, Cameron County Historical Commission and the Los Caminos del Rio Historical Board and Charter member of the Tropical Trails Committee.

Throughout his museum career he also worked as a consultant for various museums in designing and developing exhibits including the: Van Alsytne Museum in Van Alsytne, Texas, the Dallas Chapter of Public Accountant’s Museum in Dallas, Texas, the George West Historical Museum in George West, Texas, the San Benito Historical Museum featuring the Freddy Fender Museum, South Texas Conjunto Hall of Fame, and the San Benito Historical Society, the Brownsville Historical Association’s Historical Museum, the Brownsville Historical Association’s City Cemetery Center and the Weslaco Historical Museum.

Currently, and for the past three and a half years, he serves as the City Manager for the City of Port Isabel.

Please join us as we learn about “The History of Port Isabel Museum”. All locals and visitors are welcomed to attend this free presentation. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided and are being sponsored by Ron & Cecilia Bliss of South Wind Inn.

‘Telling Our Stories” is an educational program aimed to preserving the heritage of the City of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre area. Our goals are to preserve and educate our local and natural history through presentations and exhibits. The program is co-sponsored by the Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Museum Foundation. “Telling Our Stories” is presented on the last Thursday of each month from January through September at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. Admission is free.

Sponsored by: Mr. & Mrs. Ron Bliss – South Wind Inn

For more information on Telling Our Stories or to help sponsor an event, contact Jeannie Marie A. Flores at (956) 943-7602 or visit www.portisabelmuseums.com or you may also send an email to jrivera@copitx.com.

The Lighthouse Establishment Cinema will begin Season 8 on June 15, 2012! Six showings are scheduled for the summer and one during Halloween and Day of the Dead weekend. The public is invited to bring lawn chairs, blankets, picnics and friends and family for a memorable evening on the grounds of the historic Port Isabel Lighthouse.

The 2012 Summer Schedule includes the following dates: June 15, June 29, July 6, July 20, August 3 and August 17. All movies start on Friday at 9:30 p.m. just after the South Padre Island Fireworks display over the Laguna Madre Bay.

Please participate in our MOVIE SURVEY now through June 1st.

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For more information, contact the Museums of Port Isabel at 956/943-7602 or email Museum Administrator, Jeannie Marie A. Flores at museumdirector@copitx.com. NO ADMISSION CHARGE. Concessions available.
THANKS to the Museums of Port Isabel, the City of Port Isabel, the Port Isabel Economic Development Corporation and TEXAS PACK, Inc.!

If you would like to participate in a sponsorship, call the Museums of Port Isabel, Jeannie Marie A. Flores at 956/943-7602 or email museumdirector@copitx.com. (Sponsorship info> sponsor-pamplet.)

Ken Trevino & Port Isabel High School Students w/Poetry Readings

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present its “Telling Our Stories” Series of 2012 on Thursday, April 26^th, at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, 317 East Railroad Avenue at 6:30 p.m. This month’s topic will be a “Poetry Reading”.

Ken Trevino has been an English teacher at the Port Isabel High School since 2000.  He is a published poet and playwright as well as a co-founder of the Laguna Madre Writers Forum and a member of the Narciso Martinez Cultural Arts Writers Forum.  He has read poetry across theRio GrandeValley, at the Northeast Vista College in San Antonio and at Casa Mata Museum in Matamoras, Mexico.

Telling our Stories at the Museums of Port Isabel promises to be unique of the gatherings of the minds.  Students from the Port Isabel High School will be reading a variety of their own original poetry as well as their favorites from other poets.  This event will be the sixth time that students have gathered this school year to read poetry.  October, November and December 2011, students read at the Port Isabel Public Library. To date, 33 students have been inducted into the Laguna Madre Writers Forum and they have created their own unique book of poems and short stories.  Some students who have excelled in poetry this year include: Ruvid Perez, Perla Rodriquez, Eric de la Cruz Morales, Ian Hook, Jesus Lopez, Angel Flores, Ana Martinez and Angel Romero.

Please join us as we learn about “Poetry Reading”. All locals and visitors are welcomed to attend this free presentation. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided and are being sponsor by the Museums of Port Isabel.

‘Telling Our Stories” is an educational program aimed to preserving the heritage of the City ofPort Isabeland the Laguna Madre area. Our goals are to preserve and educate our local and natural history through presentations and exhibits. The program is co-sponsored by the Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Museum Foundation. “Telling Our Stories” is presented on the last Thursday of each month from January through September at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum. Admission is free.

Sponsored by: Museums of Port Isabel

For more information on Telling Our Stories or to help sponsor an event, contact Jeannie Marie A. Flores at (956) 943-7602 or visit www.portisabelmuseums.com or you may also send an email to jrivera@copitx.com.

The Museums of Port Isabel and the City of Port Isabel invite you to enjoy a day filled with live entertainment, vendors, food, family fun on the grounds of the Historic Port Isabel Lighthouse! Queen Isabella Market Day is scheduled for Saturday, April 14th from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. There is no admission charge to the event. Vendors offering collectibles, antiques, local art, jewelry and more will be lining the sidewalks around the lighthouse. A tent with tables and chairs near the live entertainment will offer the opportunity to sit down and relax while enjoying some tasty tamales, baked goods or other dishes local vendors and restaurants will be offering. Or just roll down the grassy hill of the lighthouse! Relax and let us entertain you during a family fun day in Port Isabel!

Live music by MEZA! Originally started as a side project for the Woodsboro High School Band in 2008, MEZA is now a versatile trio playing a variety of music such as rock, oldies and even country music. David Meza Jr., a 17 year old and a junior at Woodsboro High School is the lead guitar and vocals. Edward Meza, 15, a freshman at Woodsboro High School plays bass and David Meza, Sr. (Dad) on drums. MEZA has played many venues in the Corpus Christi area, such as The House of Rock and Disc-Go-Round, and local clubs in Woodsboro. Additionally, MEZA has won second place in the Battle of The Bands in Corpus Christi in 2009. They also have played for local benefits such as Back to School Bash, Christmas on the Square and local Church Festivals.

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The Port Isabel Lighthouse will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and admission just $1.00 during Market Day. And plan to visit the Port Isabel Historical Museum and the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, just a short walk across Highway 100 where admission is also just $1.00 to each site.

If you are interested in a vendor booth, please call the Museums of Port Isabel, Jeannie Marie A. Flores at 956/943-7602 or email museumdirector@copitx.com. For more information, click here: http://portisabelmuseums.com/mopi/programs/queen-isabella-market-day/.

“South Texas Images”

The Museums of Port Isabel is hosting an exhibition of local art by Port Isabel artist Virginia R. Eggert, from Sunday, April 1 thru Monday, April 30, 2012.  An opening reception will take place in the Treasures of the Gulf Museum on Thursday, April 12, 2012 from 4pm-7pm. The public is invited to attend.  Refreshments will be served. Free admission.

Local artist, Virginia R. Eggert, paints with acrylics on is a watercolor paper, watercolor board and canvas.  She has selected “Watermedia on Paper” for her latest exhibit, which uses ARCYLICS in a transparent, watercolor technique.

WATERMEDIA is a fairly recent term. Until the 1970s, watercolor painting was mostly representational, transparently painted works on paper done with traditional watercolors.  Now, watermedia includes all water soluble painting mediums (acrylics, watercolor, gouache, casein, mixed media).

With the development of acrylic paint,Virginiabegan to experiment with new applications of acrylic paint on paper.  She began to use acrylics from totally transparent (watercolor techniques) to totally opaque (gouache, casein, mixed media) type applications.  When painting with acrylics on watercolor paper, she uses a transparent process – mixing the acrylics with water and brushing them on the paper with a watercolor technique.  When painting with acrylics on canvas, she uses them thick (opaquely) as they come out of the tube, mixing them in a manner similar to using oil paints.

Today, in most watercolor exhibits, the viewer can expect to see a combination of acrylic techniques grouped under the title of “Watermedia on Paper”.  An exciting thing about acrylics is that it can do everything the other watermedia (watercolors, gouache, casein) can do.  Today, acrylics paint is used by more artists than any other painting medium.  Acrylic paint is now the only painting medium that Virginia R. Eggert uses in her art work.

Virginia R. Eggert’s subject matter includes landscapes and seascapes with boats, buildings, birds, palm trees, water views and people.  She enjoys paintings what she sees – especially the early morning and late afternoon colors and shadows on the environment.

Virginiahas been involved in art all her life.  After graduating from high school, she earned a Bachelors degree in Visual Art from theUniversityofMontanainMissoula.  She also earned a Masters degree in Art Education and a Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Arizona in Tucson.  She took art classes at the University of Alaska in Fairbanks and Juneau.

Virginia R. Eggert moved to Port Isabel in 2001 and was intrigued by the unique and colorful scenery of this area.  She joined the Laguna Madre Art League and was active as an officer for a number of years.  Now, she spends her time painting commissions and doing artwork for local shows such as the Laguna Madre Art League Annual Show and the Beachcombers Fine Arts Show.  Her work is in art collections worldwide.

She lives in Port Isabel and has a gallery-studio in her home.  Her artwork is on display and for sale in Port Isabel at the Fly Shop 318 Queen Isabella.  To arrange a studio visit, e-mail her at virginakeylargo@aol.com or call 956-943-1153.  Her website is www.virginiaeggert.com.

If you have any other questions or concerns, please contact Jeannie Flores at (956) 943-7602 or visit www.portisabelmuseums.com or you may also send an email to jrivera@copitx.com.