“A Fond Farewell”

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation are proud to present the first of the 2011 series of “Telling Our Stories” with “A Fond Farewell” featuring friendly Port Isabel/San Benito Navigation District Port Director Bob Cornelison on January 27, 2011 @ 6:30pm in the Treasures of the Gulf Museum located at 317 E. Railroad Ave. Port Isabel TX, 78578.

After nearly 30 years of service to the Lower Rio Grande Valley, helping to transform the area through the Port Isabel-Harlingen-San Benito Navigation District, Bob Cornelison is now set on retirement.

A Vietnam Navy veteran who earned a business degree at the University of Texas-Pan American, he took a job as a manager at the William Carter Co., a textile manufacturer in Harlingen. Mr. Cornelison later turned to work in local government, serving as city secretary in Rio Hondo and city administrator in La Feria.

In 1974, Mr. Cornelison and his wife Carol came to the Valley, where she had family.

In 1981, Bob Cornelison took the job as port director and has been an influential person throughout the valley. Bob Cornelison has provided a vast amount of knowledge to the Historical Museum, helping comprise detailed information on the shrimping industry and the shipping channels. Mr. Cornelison also brokered a deal with the state to give the site of the Historic Lighthouse to the City of Port Isabel and has contributed in a countless number of projects with the Navigation District.

Join us as we give a fond farwell to your friendly Port Director Bob Cornelison. Locals and visitors are welcome to attend this free event. Complimentary drinks and hors d’oeuvres will be available.

“Telling Our Stories” is a free presentation that is open to the public. These presentations are set on the final Thursday of the month from January through September at 6:30 pm. Our thanks go out to the Port Isabel Merchants Committee for sponsoring the “2011 Telling Our Stories” Series. Special thanks go out to the Laguna Madre Museum Foundation, “Quik-Stop” Seafood Market, the Chamber of Commerce, and the City of Port Isabel for their continued support.

This event is sponsored by: Designer Consigner & the Purple Parrot, located on the Lighthouse Square.

The Museums of Port Isabel and the Laguna Madre Museum Foundations goals are to help preserve and educate our local natural history through presentations and exhibits.

For more information on telling our stories or to help sponsor an event, contact Gabriel Godines at 956-943-7602 or visit www.portisabelmuseums.com you can also send an email to ggodines@copitx.com.

NEW EXHIBIT
“The Light That Bends Around Me” by Antonio Reyna III

The Museums of Port Isabel is proud to present “The Light That Bends Around Me” by artist extraordinaire, Antonio Reyna III. This collection is a culmination of silhouette images that were painted during important periods of Antonio’s life. These giant line paintings on canvas’s which are 60” by 60” depict the life and times of Antonio Reyna III. This temporary exhibit will be on display from December 8, 2010 – January 8, 2011 and can be viewed in the Treasures of the Gulf Museum.

A gifted artist and native to Mission Texas, Antonio has followed his dreams of becoming an artist with hard work and perseverance. After attending, and graduating from Mission High School, Antonio attended Concordia University in Austin Texas for one year, before attending Austin Community College the following year.

He then opened a company that dealt with different kinds of media, video, and photography, which prompted him to focus on paintings.

Antonio’s appreciation for art, music, and photography has led him to the success he has envisioned since he was a child.

Virtually, a self taught artist, Antonio Reyna III has had very little professional training, but his family and friends, are who he credits with the inspiration to pursue his career.

General admission required. Exhibit on display through January 8, 2011. For more information, contact Gabriel Godines at 956-943-7602 or visit www.portisabelmuseums.com

The Museums of Port Isabel invites you to their Annual Christmas Open House! Refreshments, free admission and 10% – 50% off at both the Treasures of the Gulf and Port Isabel Historical Museum Gift Shops. December 11, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 956/943-7602 for more information.

Additional repairs have been made to the stairs leading to the Port Isabel Lighthouse’s lantern room and the lighthouse has been reopened.

Larry Ellis, the city’s Building Inspector has given consent to reopen the tower to the public after a site safety inspection. Texas Parks and Wildlife has consented. With the Tower being reopened, some rule changes will go into effect.

Rules and Regulations

A maximum of 6 people are allowed to the top of the tower at one time.

The outside deck of the tower is closed to the public for safety purposes. Due to constant wear from both the elements and tourist visitations, the handrail on the outside deck is in need of restoration. To ensure public safety, the Museums of Port Isabel has taken the necessary precautions by closing the outside deck. Visitors may climb the tower to the top glass observation area, inside the tower.

Children 12 years and younger must be accompanied by an adult, and under no circumstances are they allowed to ascend or descend unsupervised. (Parents and Guardians are responsible for the supervision of their children)

Children fewer than 38 inches are not allowed to the top of the Lighthouse.

Under no circumstances may children be carried up or down the step. (For safety purposes, visitors must have free use of their hands.)

No pets are allowed to the top of the lighthouse (service animals are the only exception).

No running or jumping on the steps of the Lighthouse.

Horse play will not be tolerated.

Any one caught vandalizing the tower will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law.

If anyone is in need of assistance while at the top of the tower, they should not hesitate to yell down to the Lighthouse Keeper at the base of the tower.

If any of these rules are not being followed, visitors may be asked to leave.

These rules are being enforced for the public’s safety and well being. We want you to have a safe and enjoyable experience while touring our 158 year old Point Isabel Lighthouse.

If there are any questions or concerns, please feel free to call the Museums of Port Isabel at (956)-943-7602 or email Gabriel Godines at ggodines@copitx.com.

Thank you,
Gabriel J. Godines

Point Isabel Lighthouse

The Point Isabel Lighthouse is the heart of the Port Isabel experience! Open to the public, daily, weather permitting, a stroll to the top of the 70 ft. tower offers a 16 mile view. The lighthouse was constructed in 1852 as a working beacon for vessels entering the Brazos Santiago Pass. Decommissioned in 1905, the lighthouse is now a primary tourist attraction.

Tickets may be purchased in the Lighthouse, the Keepers Cottage (Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Center), the Treasures of the Gulf Museum and the Port Isabel Historical Museum.

Hours of Operation: Daily 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. (weather permitting).
Summer Hours: Monday – Thursday 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Friday – Sunday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Ticket Information: Individual Site Tickets to the Port Isabel Lighthouse OR the Treasures of the Gulf Museum OR the Port Isabel Historical Museum.
Adults: $3.00; Senior Citizens*: $2.00; Students**: $1.00
Children 4 & Under: Free; Museum Member***: Free.
Combination Site Ticket: to the Port Isabel Lighthouse & Keepers Cottage AND the Treasures of the Gulf Museum AND the Port Isabel Historical Museum.
Adults: $7.00; Senior Citizens*: $5.00; Students**: $2.00
Children 4 & Under: Free; Museum Member***: Free
*Senior Citizens (55 & over); **Students (K – College with ID);
***Museum Member (with Membership Card). Military ID: Free.

The lighthouse will be closed until further notice due to the necessary repairs to a step. Temporary repairs were made earlier in the week, and after further inspection by the City’s Building Department and the Museum Staff it was decided to close the lighthouse pending an inspection by Texas Parks and Wildlife. While the historic lighthouse is an important attraction to Port Isabel, public safety is the utmost concern.

Friday’s showing of CORALINE is still scheduled to start at 8:30 pm! Everybody is invited to attend as Port Isabel kicks of a full schedule of Halloween and Day of the Dead weekend activities.

Thank you for your patience in this matter. For more information call the Museums at 956/943-7602.

Gabriel Godines
Museums of Port Isabel Curator of Education and Programs