TPTR Mission The Texas Pecos Trail Region develops and promotes heritage preservation and tourism

throughout the richly diverse West Texas area.

Inside this Issue:

Pecos Trail Grants 1 Invite to Pecos Trail Partners Event 2 Mar. 19, Sonora Travel Itinerary: 2 Spring Break Destinations Current TPTR Membership 3 News on the Pecos Trail 3 Preservation Spotlight: 3 Seminole Canyon State Park Mar Calendar of Events 4 Contact Information 4

TPTR Board of Directors Bill Hodges (Chair) Sonora Main Street, Sonora

Peggy Kelton (Secretary) Upton Cnty Historical Commission, McCamey

Sherry Phillips (Treasurer) Mayor of McCamey

Connie Booth Kimble County Chamber of Commerce, Junction

Ellen Crossland Mendoza Trail Museum, McCamey

Betty Damron Crane County Historical Commission, Crane

Bill Simon Smart Choice Auto Group, Junction

Ruben Vargas Trendy T’s, Midland

Pecos Trail Heritage Tourism Grants

The Pecos Trail Region has small grants available for eligible heritage tourism projects, programs, and events. These grants are designed to promote public awareness of the history of our region, encourage community involvement, and enhance the visitor experience. Grants are up to $1,000 with a 1-to-1 match. Eligible projects include print materials and publications, exhibit development, website development, interpretive or way-finding signage, educational programs for the general public, and workshops to develop heritage tourism. Projects not considered are “bricks and mortar” projects or capital improvements, operating expenses, advertising exclusively, political or religious advocacy, or for groups without official status. An eligible applicant must be a 501(c)(3), 501(c)(6), or government entity. The project must take place within the Pecos Trail Region (with few exceptions) and be open to the general public. We ask that you submit the application at least three months prior to the event or project start date to allow time for us to review, approve, and award the grant. You may download the application and view guidelines at the Partners page at www.texaspecostrail.com. For questions or assistance call Scott at (325) 387-3900. You may also request an application emailed to you at info@texaspecostrail.com.

Recent grant recipient: Del

Rio Council for the Arts.

“Miguel Covarubbias:

Caricaturista” traveling

exhibit at the Firehouse.

Texas Pecos Trail Region Newsletter March 2015

Pecos Trail Newsletter Mar 2015 Page 2

Travel Itinerary: Spring Break Destinations Take some time off with the family at these recreational attractions in our region!

To learn more of these and other heritage tourism attractions in the Pecos Trail Region visit http://texaspecostrail.com.

Monahans Sandhills State Park Monahans

Natural glistening dunes stretch for miles and are great for family outings, exploring and hiking, sand-surfing, RV, and horse riding.

Lake Amistad Del Rio

Large reservoir operated by the National Park Service includes swimming, boating, jet-skiing, and nearby restaurants and lodging.

Balmorhea State Park Balmorhea

The world’s largest spring-fed pool, built in the 1930s, is an oasis in the desert , and also has overnight lodging facilities and is near local hotels, scuba shop, and birdwatching spots.

Museum of the Southwest Midland

“Spring Break Fun” activities March 9-13 include PBS shows and dome shows, art, yoga, martial arts, and more! Museum complex includes the art gallery, children’s museum, and planetarium.

Pecos Trail Partners Event — Mar 19, Sonora

Fort Clark Springs Brackettville

Historic fort, founded in 1852, is at the center of many activities including a par-3 and full 18-hole golf course (with restaurant), hotel, RV park, museum, theater, and hiking & nature trail.

South Llano River State Park Junction

Pristine Hill Country scenery with opportunities for kayaking, hiking, swimming, fly-fishing, birding, and other activities. Lodging nearby.

The Texas Pecos Trail Region is holding our next bi-monthly Partners Event on March 19, starting at 10 a.m., in Sonora TX at the Mercantile Building (232 E. Main). As always this educational experience, networking lunch, and board meeting invites those involved in heritage tourism and is open to the public. Attendees will tour the Sonora Main Street District, which includes the Sutton County Court House, Old Sonora Ice House Ranch Museum, Veterans and Pioneer Ranch Women Museum, the Bank Vault Park, and more. Guest speakers TBD. Guests will convene in the first floor meeting room. Cost of lunch is $10 and will be catered by Gigi’s on Main. We will have our regular board meeting before and after lunch depending on schedule. RSVP by Mar. 13 to Scott at info@texaspecostrail.com or (325) 387-3900 so that we can have a lunch head-count. We look forward to seeing you!

Pecos Trail Newsletter Mar 2015 Page 3

Preservation Spotlight

Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site preserves the rock art of the Lower Pecos canyonlands and rock shelters in Val Verde County, just west of Comstock, which is one of the most significant collections of pictographs found in the world today. Dating back to 4,000 years ago, these canyon dwellers painted images with natural pigments extracted from various minerals, including hues of red, black, yellow, orange, and white. Some research suggests that these murals may communicate important elements of belief systems and shamanistic ritual. Seminole Canyon State Park features Fate Bell Shelter as its centerpiece and offers two-mile, moderately-strenuous guided tours every Wednesday through Saturday. The site is named in honor of the Seminole-Negro Indian Scouts once garrisoned at Fort Clark. The “Maker of Peace” sculpture by artist Bill Worrell stands nearby and looking over the Pecos canyons.

Current Pecos Trail Members

We wish to recognize the following for their membership with the Texas Pecos Trail Region:

Andrews Chamber of Commerce City of Big Lake

Cody Bell Jr. Ranch Crane County Historical Commission

Crockett County Library Del Rio Council for the Arts Eagle Pass Chamber of Commerce

Ellen Noel Art Museum Fort Clark Historical Society Fort Lancaster State Historic Site

Fort Stockton Convention & Visitors Bureau Friends of the Monahans Sandhills State Park

George W. Bush Childhood Home Historic White-Pool House

Martin County Historical Museum Midland Convention & Visitors Bureau

Monahans Chamber of Commerce Nita Stewart Haley Memorial Library Odessa Convention & Visitors Bureau

Odessa Meteor Crater Ozona Chamber of Commerce Pecos Area Chamber of Commerce Pecos Main Street Permian Basin Petroleum Museum Rankin Museum Sonora Main Street Whitehead Memorial Museum

Winkler County Historical Commission For TPTR membership info contact (325) 387-3900.

News on the Pecos Trail

Castle Gap now has an official historical marker from the Texas Historical Commission. Located a few miles south of Crane on U.S. Hwy 385 at a roadside park. Native Americans, stage and mail coaches, and cattle herders traveled through Castle Gap. Photo by Crane County Historical Commission.

Doc Holliday’s Bar & Grill in Del Rio installed a mural on its exterior west wall. This colorful mural was done by a local artist and details the icons and landmarks of the city’s heritage.

The Kinney County Commissioners Court adopted a resolution recognizing October 11, 2015 as a day to observe and commemorate the 175th anniversary of the fight at Las Moras Springs between the Comanche people and the Army of the Republic of Texas. Planning is underway to have representatives of the Comanche Nation and living historians of the Republic of Texas join in the event. All citizens are invited to attend.

The park has resumed its seasonal special tours of Presa Canyon and Upper Seminole Canyon, where visitors can experience more rugged hiking and observe rarely seen pictographs and remote military and railroad historical sites. The site is hosting a traveling exhibit through April relating to the 1598 expedition of Juan de Onate into New Mexico and its impact on the American Southwest. The park includes a visitor center with exhibits of Native American culture, early U.S. Army soldiers, ranching, and railroading. Seminole Canyon State Park is located about 10 miles west of Comstock just off U.S. Hwy 90. Visit http://tpwd.texas.gov/state-parks/seminole-canyon to learn more and plan your adventure!

Pecos Trail Newsletter Mar 2015 Page 4

Regional Upcoming Events

Mar Event – Location 1-31 Student Art Exhibition: Time Warp — Museum of the Southwest, Midland 1-31 Art & Fashion of the 1920s — Ellen Noel Art Museum, Odessa 1-31 “Camino al Norte: The Journey of Don Juan de Onate — Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site, Comstock 5 Family Science Night — Permian Basin Petroleum Museum, Midland 6 First Friday Art Walk — Downtown Del Rio 7 Montalvo House Market — Montalvo House, Brackettville 7 Market Day — Catherine Pearl’s Gift Shop & Art Gallery, Quemado 9-13 Spring Break Fun — Museum of the Southwest, Midland 12-18 “Remembering Our Fallen” Exhibit — Pecos Community Center, Pecos 12 Del Rio Chamber Banquet — Del Rio Civic Center, Del Rio 14 Texas Proud in Pecos — Windmill Square, Pecos 14 Montalvo House Market — Montalvo House, Brackettville 14 Presa Canyon Day Hike — Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site, Comstock 15 Upper Canyon Guided Hike — Seminole Canyon State Park & Historic Site, Comstock 19-21 Odessa College NIRA Rodeo — Ector County Coliseum, Odessa 19 Third Thursday Reading Program — George W. Bush Childhood Home, Midland 19 Pecos Trail Partners Event — Mercantile Building and Main Street District, Sonora 20-29 International Friendship Festival — Downtown and Shelby Park, Eagle Pass 20-22 Spring Fling Market — Midland Horseshoe Pavilion, Midland 20-21 Old Quarry Society Presents “Drinking Habits” — Post Theater, Fort Clark Springs 21 Ruffles and Rust Expo — Ector County Coliseum, Odessa 22 Lone Star Brass: Under the Big Top — Wagner Noel Performing Arts Center, Midland/Odessa 26 Kimble/Menard Friends of NRA Banquet — Coke Stevenson Center, Junction

For more details on upcoming events, please visit the Events or Highlights sections at http://texaspecostrail.com.

The Texas Pecos Trail Region Newsletter is scheduled for website publication and electronic distribution each month.

Texas Pecos Trail Region, P.O. Box 212, Sonora, Texas 76950

Office 325-387-3900 Cell 325-206-2571 Fax 325-387-3977

Email info@texaspecostrail.com Website http://texaspecostrail.com

Executive Director and newsletter publisher: Scott Jordan

Statewide Events, Workshops, Etc. Mar 6-7 Heritage Tourism Workshops — Laredo and Rio Grande City — The Texas Historical Commission will conduct workshops to offer participants an immersive tourism experience (cuisine, arts, heritage dance, etc.) that they can apply to their own communities. Register here. Apr 8-10 Texas Association of Museums Annual Meeting — Omni Hotel, Ft. Worth — Enjoy sessions and workshops, special events, and off-site tours and network with other museum professionals. Early bird registration ends Mar 8. Visit www.texasmuseums.org. Apr 16 TTIA Texas Travel Fair — Multi-Purpose Events Center, Wichita Falls — Presented by Texas Travel Industry Assn. Tourism destinations promote their sites to travel counselors across Texas. The Heritage Trails Program will have a booth there. If your DMO is interested in having a booth visit www.ttia.org to register or learn more.

You can order the new Texas Heritage Travel Guide or the Bankhead Highway brochure from the Texas Historical Commission at www.thc.state.tx.us.