New Hospital Exhibit at Fort Davis National Historic Site

After more than five years in the works, and the result of many hours worked, and generous donations given, Fort Davis National Historic Site opened their new hospital exhibit this week.

From the Fort's publicity on the exhibit:

"The Post Surgeon’s Office is now completely furnished as a functional doctor’s office of the 1880s.  Visitors can see the examining table, medical instruments, and medications of the day, along with the physician’s reference and diagnostic tools of the day: a skeleton, a microscope, and copious volumes of leather-bound books.

In the Hospital Steward’s room, put yourself in the doctor’s shoes.  Check out the large interactive display of old-time medical instruments and what problems they treated, such as brain bleed or removal of tonsils.  Nearby “The Wheel of Misfortune” game allows viewers to select a disease and try to guess what medication doctors commonly gave for that illness---such as mercury pills for consumption (TB).

These displays reveal case studies of actual patients treated at the fort, drawn from historical U.S. Army medical records in the National Archives.  The exhibits offer park visitors knowledge of how medicine was practiced at the frontier army post of Fort Davis in the late 19^th century.  Bring the family to the fort to see this insightful display. 

The park is open daily 8-5; for more info on the park, see www.nps.gov/foda.   The Friends of Fort Davis NHS continues to support various efforts at the fort like the ongoing hospital restoration project; to become a member of this organization, see www.ffdnhs.org/"

A nice place to follow....a groundbreaking for the Library Terrace Project

Jeff Davis County Library building (1906), across the street from the County Courthouse and next to the historic Limpia Hotel

Judge Geoge Grubb, Cyndee Barnes (President, Friends of the Jeff Davis County Library) and Toi Fisher (Jeff Davis County Library Director) along with Judge Fred Ganado, Crisarely Ponce (Fort Davis High School Student) and Rep. Pete Gallego officially broke ground for the project, Thursday, April 19.

 

 

One of the joys of working as the regional heritage trails organization in Far West Texas is our association with the Texas Historical Commission on the Heritage Tourism Partnership Grant program.  Through this program, grant funds have been available for worthy community projects that contribute to the region's desirability as a heritage tourism attraction, or increase awareness of our cultural or historic resources. (Sadly, state budget cuts required the suspension of this program.)  A committee of our Texas Mountain Trail Board of Directors reviewed grant applications the past two years and made recommendations to the Texas Historical Commission for funding. 

The Jeff Davis County Library was awarded a $10,000 grant for their project.  The terrace project will develop a pleasant, welcoming, outdoor seating area where everyone is welcome to meet, relax, read and access the library's wireless network at all hours.  There will also be permanent outdoor displays with local information outlining the historical significance of the Fort Davis area.

The design will comply with the THC's guidance on preserving the integrity of the original 1906 structure, will be "Dark Skies compliant," and ADA accessible.

At Thursday's groundbreaking, many key donors were recognized including the THC's Heritage Tourism Partnership Grant.  Rep. Pete Gallego pledged fundraising effort for 10% of the project budget...a pledge to bring in $9,000.00.  You can  follow the progress of the Terrace Project here:   http://friendsjdcl.org/terrace-project/

You can support the Friends organization and the Terrace Project here: http://friendsjdcl.org/support/

When the project is finished, thanks to the Friends of the Library and many donors and supporters,  there will be a lovely, relaxing place for local residents and visitors to enjoy! 

Last night's sky near dusk

Taken last night on Hwy 17 at dusk between Marfa and Fort Davis, looking east at dusk.

Blooming in the Cactus Greenhouse

Nearly every time we visit the cactus greenhouse at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Garden outside Fort Davis, we see something blooming.  This time of year, there seems to be more blossoms.  Saturday we stopped by and saw some beauties. 

Would you like to see more?  Visit the Center or "like" our Texas Mountain Trail Facebook page.  We post lovelies like this as often as we can!

Blooming right now all over the region

Spring is here!  The yuccas are blooming all over the Texas Mountains.  We've seen some beautiful ones along Hwy 90 between Marfa and Van Horn, as well as at the Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center.  Where have you seen them? 

Van Horn hikers

Another great old photo from the collection of the Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn, part of a collection of early life there.  For hiking information, visit our hiking page, www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike  and stay tuned, we're launching a hiking program with Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Franklin Mountains State Park later this summer!

Beautiful Indian Lodge

A perennial favorite in our region is the historic Indian Lodge in Davis Mountains State Park!  A quiet place to relax during a trip to the mountains, travelers enjoy this beautiful adobe structure, which was built by Civilian Conservation Corps workers in the 1930s.

From the Lodge's website:

"Indian Lodge is a unique inn located in Jeff Davis County northwest of Fort Davis within the bounds of Davis Mountains State Park. Built in the 1930s, it was opened to the public in 1939. The historic section of the lodge was constructed in the 1930s by the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) and features the original interiors and furnishings. In 1967, a major construction project was completed, including renovation of the original structure, which has eighteen-inch adobe walls, hand-carved cedar furniture, and ceilings of pine viga and latilla. It resembles a Southwestern Native-American-style, multilevel pueblo village." 

The Indian Lodge is one of our region's best historic hotels, as you plan your next visit to the Texas Mountain Trail region, consider staying in one of them!  

Greenhouse blooms open right now!

In full bloom yesterday at the Cactus Greenhouse at Chihuahuan Desert Nature Center and Botanical Garden, just outside Fort Davis.  Labeled Astrophytum capricorne, also called Goat's Horns Cactus, found in the Chihuahuan desert of Mexico.  But you can see it, with other lovely blooming cacti, in the greenhouse!

Bentonite of the Trans Pecos--Volcanic Tuff, Badlands, Hoodoos and Kitty Litter!

Bentonite Badlands by Gary Nored

Volcanic Tuff at Big Bend National Park by Gary Nored

Today, we introduce you to a wonderful blog about our region, "An Eye for Texas," by Gary Nored, Texas Master Naturalist and volunteer with Big Bend Ranch State Park.

The latest entry of the blog is about bentonite, a clay material abundant in the Trans Pecos, formed by the mechanical and chemical weathering of volcanic materials. In easy to understand language, Gary explains how the weathering results in hoodoos, canyons, and ravines in the bentonite badlands.  "An Eye for Texas," provides substantive information about all the topics Gary explores.  For example, did you know bentonite is used to make kitty litter? 


Click here for Gary's blog, "An Eye for Texas," and read all about it!  Thanks, Gary, for sharing your work with our Texas Mountain Trail friends!

Tomorrow is Open Day at Davis Mountains Preserve

Tomorrow, the Nature Conservancy opens its Davis Mountains Preserve to visitors for hiking, picnicking, bird and wildlife watching for one of its Open Weekends.

Click here for more information about visiting the Preserve during its public days.  More photos of our visit to the Preserve last year are here.

Unlike the rest of the Preserve, the Madera Canyon Trail is open 365 days a year and is ready for your visit!  Read more about it here.

From the Nature Conservancy's website:

"The wild and remote Davis Mountains is considered one of the most scenic areas of Texas.  Indeed it is one of the most biologically diverse.  Rising above the Chihuahuan desert, the range forms a unique “sky island” surrounded by the lowland desert. Animals and plants living above 5,000 feet are isolated from other similar mountain ranges by vast distances. These are true ecological islands, preserving living remnants that occur otherwise nowhere else in Texas.
The 33,000-acre Davis Mountains Preserve (with conservation easements on 65,830 acres of adjoining property) includes Mount Livermore, the summit of the Davis Mountains. It encompasses the heart of a functioning landscape with intact watersheds and a unique assemblage of animals and plants."

Scenic Drive-Scenic Ride

There's a great undiscovered road connecting Van Horn with Guadalupe Mountains National Park that we call the "El Capitan to El Capitan Heritage Bike Route," but it is a great route for motorists and motorcyclists in addition to cyclists. 

It starts at the historic Hotel El Capitan in Van Horn (at the crossroads of the Texas Mountain Trail) and runs due north to the base of Guadalupe Mountains National Park.  All in all, 55 miles of majestic scenery, frontier, and VERY little traffic.  Click HERE to read all about it, and see an elevation chart and more photos of the route.

Now Hwy 54, this is what the 1940 edition of the WPA Guide to Texas says about the road:

"US 90, rounding the northeast shoulder of the Baylor Range, heads north up the broad arid valley that lies between the frowning rampart of the Sierra Diablo (6,513 alt.) on the west and the Delaware Mountains (5,670 alt.) on the east, traversing one of the most desolate yet weirdly beautiful stretches of country to be found in Texas.  The view sweeps almost level reaches, gray-green with sage and greasewood, dotted here and there with prickly pear, yucca and ocotillo.  Beyond the middle distance a streak of blazing white gleams (R) like a hazy silver ribbon.  It is the crystal-encrusted shoreline of a salt lake.  On the horizon the ragged crest of the Delawares loom stark against the sky.  Closer at hand, the sheer wall of the Sierra Diablo rises (L).  Somewhere in the tangle of ridges and deep narrow canyon of this range are mines, lost and active.  Gleaming white salt lakes appear.  Far ahead lifts the blunt nose of the Guadalupe Range where it shoves its triangle of lofty peaks across the State Line from New Mexico.  Higher and bolder loom the broad cliffs."
 

Build your own story. What's happening here?

We don't know much about this photograph, other than the fact it is in the collection of the Clark Hotel Museum in Van Horn.  What do you think?  The car in the back gives us some clues as to the date, but what's she doing?  Is this a special occasion like a ground-breaking?  Or is she ready to work, hat and all?  What do you suppose is going on?

More from the Garden at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology

We saw all of these on Saturday at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology!  They have a beautiful garden there adjacent to Franklin Mountains State Park.

Watercolor Paintings of Rock Art at Hueco Tanks at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology

Our friends at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology sent us this about a current exhibit:

Watercolor Paintings of Rock Art at Hueco Tanks

Exhibit on view until June 3, 2012

The El Paso Museum of Archaeology is currently exhibiting Forrest Kirkland’s images of rock art at Hueco Tanks in the auditorium gallery.   

Kirkland was the first artist to systematically document prehistoric rock art in Texas, thus his work is well known and admired by those interested in Texas archaeology. 

The twenty six images in this exhibit, which include hundreds of pictographs, are full color reproductions scanned at high resolution from Kirkland’s plates.  The original watercolors are no longer in a condition to be exhibited because the paper and paints are brittle and light sensitive.  Today some of the images Kirkland rendered in watercolor have faded or disappeared while others in sheltered locations are still visible.

Want to learn more or plan a visit?  Here's the museum's website.

Texas Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology

Texas Rainbow Hedgehog Cactus next to a few remaining spring mountain poppies outside
the El Paso Museum of Archaeology yesterday

The contrasting bands on the the cactus stem
gives the name "rainbow" and indicate
bands of yearly growth

Yesterday, we were delighted to see spring blooms at the El Paso Museum of Archaeology on Trans Mountain Road.  There were still poppies blooming from last weekend's poppy festival, and there were also several cacti blooming.  Spring is a great time to visit the museum's desert garden.

The Texas Rainbow Hedgehog cactus (Echinocereus dasyacanthus) was a real beauty.  The "rainbow" in the name refers to the contrasting colored bands on the stem, each reflecting a year's growth.  Spines are usually numerous, overlapping and interlocking, forming a mesh that covers the green color of the stem.  Blooms appear in the spring from March to May, earlier at lower elevations and later at higher elevations. The blossoms are bee-pollinated.  They open in the morning and close at night, and last about a week.

More about the El Paso Museum of Archaeology from their website:

El Paso Museum of Archaeology

The El Paso Museum of Archaeology tells the story of the first inhabitants of the El Paso area, the greater Southwest, and northern Mexico. Dioramas and exhibits in the museum narrate and depict American Indian lives and display their material culture from the Paleoindian hunters of the Ice Age to their modern Indian descendants. The exhibits and their content are periodically changed to reflect the scope of the museum's collections and the interests of the community.

The museum's grounds include 15 acres of nature trails, outdoor exhibits, and a desert garden with more than 250 varieties of native plants. There is also a gazebo for family picnics and small group activities.

 

The Museum of Archaeology is adjacent to the National Border Patrol Museum on Trans Mountain Road, near Franklin Mountains State Park.

One of our favorite recommendations: Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend National Park

Why is the Lost Mine Trail in Big Bend National Park one of our favorite hiking recommendations?  Well, many first-timers chose the Lost Mine Trail as the very first hike they tackle in Big Bend, because of the length and moderate difficulty of the trail, and views like this are the stuff of memories.  In fact, it is the first Big Bend trail our Texas Mountain Trail Executive Director hiked in the region. 

Below is the trail information posted by the National Park Service on their website:

Lost Mine Trail
Difficulty: Moderate; Distance: 4.8 miles round trip
Begin at mile 5.1 on the Basin Road, limited parking
This trail serves as an outstanding introduction the flora and fauna of the Chisos Mountains. With limited time, hike to marker 10 (about 1 mile), where a saddle offers stunning views of Casa Grande and Juniper Canyon. The remainder of the trail climbs steeply in and out of juniper, oak, and pine forest. The trail abruptly levels out at the ridge with superb views of Pine Canyon and the Sierra del Carmen in Mexico. A brochure is available at the trailhead. 

Here's the link to other day hike information for Big Bend National Park.


Later this year, we'll announce a special hiking program, the Peak Fitness Challenge for Guadalupe Mountains National Park and Franklin Mountains State Park on our Texas Mountain Trail hiking page, www.texasmountaintrail.com/hike

Blooming right now all over the region--Claret Cup Cacti

A Claret Cup cactus, taken yesterday in Van Horn

Despite our drought, the claret cups are blooming this year.  One of our favorite places to see them is right
off I-10 at the Van Horn Ramada Inn, where several are planted in a row along the roadside.  In fact, a couple of years ago we chronicled the blossoming of one of these terrific plants, by taking a photo a day, and put it up on our facebook page.  You can see them all here.

Early Van Horn

A beautiful early view of Van Horn, looking northwest with Turtleback and Three Mile mountains in the distance.  As you travel west on I-10, those mountains still dominate the view, making this photo so interesting to us today. Click on the photo for a closer view!

Update:  We took a look around town this morning and stopped by the old Presbyterian Church, which appears at the left side of the photo.  The plaque on the church indicates it was built in 1902 and housed other churches until they could erect their own buildings.

Click on the image for a closer view!

Old Cafe Ruins on the back roads route to El Paso

Ruins of a cafe in McNary

Most travelers take I-10 to and from El Paso, but on the east side of the city, there's another way, through the Mission Trail to Fabens and Fort Hancock and tiny places like McNary and Esperanza along Hwys 20 and 192.  The route parallels I-10 and is the route Adventure Cycling Association recommends for their Southern Tier cross-country riders, maps 34-36.  More about the map, and purchasing information is here.

More photos of this route are here.

Last Light at Fort Davis

A lovely night at Fort Davis National Historic Site.   Want to hear the sounds of the fort ending the day?  Visit our "Day at the Fort" feature...you can be a soldier from the 1870s-1880s from home!  Click here.