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

A play by Gloria Bates “Tres Lloronas” ~ Two Shows

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present its “Telling Our Stories” Series of 2012 on Thursday, January 26, at the Treasures of the Gulf Museum, 317 East Railroad Ave at 4:00 and 6:30pm. This month’s topic will be a theatrical play “Tres Lloronas”, written by Gloria Bates and performed by Gloria Bates and friends.

“Tres Lloronas”, sad, tragic love stories, written by Gloria Bates is the legend of La Llorona, the weeping woman and is timeless. This story has been told in the Latin American countries for as long as legends have existed. The popular folk legend is about a woman who killed her children as revenge for the man that betrayed her love. She is forever searching the rivers and streets at night looking for her lost cildren. Parents used the story as a warning to keep their children in late at night, and also away form the rivers to avoid falling in and drowning.

Cast: Dona Margarita Champion de Orive (Carol Plumb); Luna Maria Zamora de Trevino (Gloria Bates); Cuca Adelita Zapata de Romero (Cathy Shelton). Circa: 1880s and returning to the present time in Port Isabel, Texas in the City Cemetery during “Day of the Dead” Celebration.

Please join us as we are entertained by “Tres Lloronas”. All locals and visitors are welcomed to attend this free presentation. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be provided, following the program.

“Telling Our Stories” is an educational program aimed to preserve the heritage of the City of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre area. Our goals are to preserve and educate out local and natural history through presentations and exhibits. The program is co-sponsored by the Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre 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 visitwww.portisabelmuseums.com or you may also send an email tomuseumdirector@copitx.com.

A morning under the Big Top. Learning, laughter, and fun.

Mayor Joe E. Vega & Port Isabel City Commission would like for you to come out February 13 and experience the 2012 edition of the Kelly Miller Circus at the Laguna Madre Park as we fill your day with an exciting learning adventure. The journey begins as we pull onto the Circus grounds at 7:30 a.m. and begin the transformation into an educational wonderland.

As the hustle and bustle of Circus life envelopes the grounds, you become lost in the unloading of equipment and animals. The giant elephants help raise the Circus Big Top and free guided tours are given to let everyone take part in the excitement. The huge creatures are so fascinating to watch. Many people have spent the entire day enjoying their playful antics. You can observe the elephants as they play together in their “elephant pen” unchained! The silly games they play will delight and amaze you.

The elephants are awesome but don’t forget the rest of our Circus family. Our horses, camels, llamas, ponies, and miniature Sicilian donkeys are equally enjoyable. They perform for you, along with the other amazing acrobats and aerialists from around the world, in the two main Big Top Circus performances.

The friendly personnel in the Animal Department will be glad to answer any questions you may have about the Circus animals on display. What better way to learn about the animals than by having a live example in front of you to observe and to ask questions about?

If you have ever wondered what a camel’s foot looks like, or how much an elephant eats, come out and see for yourself. The fun will be there for everyone, and what you learn you can take home for free.

Tickets are on sale now, $10.00 when purchased in advance from the Museums of Port Isabel, City of Port Isabel, Port Isabel Chamber of Commerce, Port Isabel Library and the South Padre Island Chamber of Commerce. We hope to see you at the Circus! Showtimes: February 13, 6 p.m. & 8:30 p.m.

Treasures of the Gulf Museum Displays Local Art – Carol A. Plumb
“CAROL’s VISTAS”

The Museums of Port Isabel is hosting an exhibit of local art by Port Isabel Artist Carol A. Plumb from Sunday, January 1^st thru Tuesday, Tuesday, January 31^st 2012.  An opening reception will take place in the Treasures of the Gulf Museum on Wednesday, January 11, 2012 at 5 p.m. -7 p.m. The public is invited to attend.  Refreshments will be served.

Artist Carol Plumb’s love of the landscape in the Rio Grande valley and its scenic essence provides her with the inspiration she needs.  Carol has always drawn and painted as a child.  She attended the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and the Minneapolis College of Art and Design as an art student.  However, her early career path led her on a more commercial art direction.  Now she has returned to her love of painting.

Carol’s recent work includes large scale, slightly abstract scenes of South Padre Island, Boca Chica Beach, Mesquital Mexico, Laguna Atascosa and the Bahia Grande area near Brownsville, Texas.

Recent exhibitions of her art have included a solo at Galleria 409, Brownsville, Texas and participation in the 2009 and 2010 International Art Shows at the Brownsville Museum of Fine Art.  Her work has recently been exhibited at the Port Isabel Museum Community Gallery, the Purple Parrot gallery in Port Isabel and Zeste Gourmet on South Padre Island.

To arrange a studio visit, e-mail her at carolplumb98@yahoo.com. Her website is www.CarolaArt.com.

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