TexasEscapes.comTexas Escapes Online Magazine: Travel and History
Columns: History, Humor, Topical and Opinion
Over 1800 Texas Towns & Ghost Towns
NEW : : TEXAS TOWNS : : GHOST TOWNS : : TEXAS HOTELS : : FEATURES : : COLUMNS : : ARCHITECTURE : : IMAGES : : SITE MAP : : SEARCH SITE
HOME
SEARCH SITE
ARCHIVES
RESERVATIONS
Texas Hotels
Hotels
Cars
Air
Cruises
Edinburg Hotels
Find Hotel Deals in
Edinburg, Texas
Book Today & Save
 
 Texas : Towns A-Z / South Texas : Edinburg

Edinburg Attractions
Edinburg, Texas

Museum of South Texas History
121 E. McIntyre St. Edinburg, Texas 78516
Ph. (956) 383-6911 Fax (956) 381-8518
www.MOSTHistory.org

The Museum is housed in the Former County Jail and also once served as Edinburg's City Hall. The city hall and former courthouse were a matched set until they decided to build what serves as a courthouse today.

A scarcity of Oaks (the tree of choice for hangings) and Cottonwoods (popular in the Panhandle), prompted the county to install a trapdoor in the jail for executions. The abundant palms just wouldn't work. The door was sprung only once, hanging one J. Ortiz for murder.

We wanted to say the trapdoor was only used once because it was a bother to move the sheriff's desk, but the museum director said that that wasn't true. So we won't say that. We later found out that a former museum director did indeed have a desk over the trap door, but never had to move it.

In addition to the many other displays, one is included on McAllen's famous "Rocket Mail" episode. See "Rockets Over The Rio". All the displays are filled with artifacts, photographs and informative text.

The museums gift shop also contains a book selection better than the one at The Institute of Texas Cultures in San Antonio. Not as big, perhaps, but the titles are well selected and pertain to the entire South Texas region. They even had a book on the King Ranch that was not available at the Ranch's Museum giftshop in Kingsville.
More attractions
  • Edinburg Municipal Waterparks - 123 E. Palm Drive. Admissions. 956-381-5631
  • International Racetrack Association - 9 miles north on US 281 by the airport. 956-318-0355
  • Sheriff's Posse Rodeo - 2 miles south on US 281, west on Wisconsin Rd.
  • Edinburg Recreation

  • Bentsen-Rio Grande Valley State Park >
  • Boca Chica State Park >
  • Lake El sal del Rey - 20 miles west of Raymondville. Off Hwy 186

    Book Your Hotel Here & Save
    Edinburg Hotels
    More Hotels
  • Edinburg Texas' haunted depot
    Edinburg Visitor Information Center

    The former Southern Pacific Station
    Photo courtesy Edinburg Chamber of Commerce

    Edinburg Tourist Information

  • Edinburg Chamber of Commerce:
    Edinburg Visitor Information Center
    602 West University
    Mon - Fri 8:30 - 5 PM
    956-383-4974 or 1-800-800-7214.
    Website: www.edinburg.com

    Edinburg's colorful, attractive and complete brochure lists attractions, dining, lodging and general information and can be picked up at the chamber.

    See Edinburg, Texas
    Edinburg Hotels
    > Book Your Hotel Here & Save
  • Edinburg Hotels
    Find Hotel Deals in
    Edinburg, Texas
    Book Today & Save

     
    HOME | TEXAS ESCAPES ONLINE MAGAZINE | TEXAS HOTELS
    TEXAS TOWN LIST | TEXAS GHOST TOWNS | TEXAS COUNTIES

    Texas Hill Country | East Texas | Central Texas North | Central Texas South | West Texas | Texas Panhandle | South Texas | Texas Gulf Coast
    TRIPS | STATES PARKS | RIVERS | LAKES | DRIVES | MAPS

    TEXAS FEATURES
    Ghosts | People | Historic Trees | Cemeteries | Small Town Sagas | WWII | History | Black History | Rooms with a Past | Music | Animals | Books
    COLUMNS : History, Humor, Topical and Opinion

    TEXAS ARCHITECTURE | IMAGES
    Courthouses | Jails | Churches | Gas Stations | Schoolhouses | Bridges | Theaters | Monuments/Statues | Depots | Water Towers | Post Offices | Grain Elevators | Lodges | Museums | Stores | Banks | Gargoyles | Cornerstones | Pitted Dates | Drive-by Architecture | Old Neon | Murals | Signs | Ghost Signs | Then and Now
    Vintage Photos

    TRAVEL RESERVATIONS | HOTELS | USA | MEXICO

    Privacy Statement | Disclaimer | Recommend Us | Contributors | Staff | Contact TE
    Website Content Copyright ©1998-2008. Texas Escapes - Blueprints For Travel, LLC. All Rights Reserved
    This page last modified: May 25, 2009