Historic Laredo
An illustrated history of the city of Laredo and the Webb County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
An illustrated history of the city of Laredo and the Webb County area, paired with the histories of companies, families and organizations that make the region great.
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Growing out of the <strong>Laredo</strong> <strong>Historic</strong>al<br />
Society founded in 1955, the Webb County<br />
Heritage Foundation was chartered in 1980<br />
and seeks to promote an awareness and appreciation<br />
of the goals of historic preservation,<br />
heritage education, and heritage tourism. In<br />
this role, the WCHF promotes preservation<br />
and rehabilitation of historic architecture,<br />
ranching heritage, and folklore and traditions<br />
of the border region. It has been instrumental<br />
in the designation of local historic districts and<br />
participates in the process of protecting the<br />
integrity of these and other areas through its<br />
work on the City of <strong>Laredo</strong>’s <strong>Historic</strong> District<br />
Landmark Board. The WCHF conducts tours<br />
of historic downtown <strong>Laredo</strong>, archives historic<br />
documents, maps, and photographs, records<br />
oral histories, presents exhibitions, and operates<br />
the Republic of the Rio Grande Museum in<br />
one of <strong>Laredo</strong>’s oldest structures located on San<br />
Agustin Plaza.<br />
The Heritage Foundation celebrated twenty<br />
years of existence in the year 2000. The<br />
160th anniversary of the declaration of the<br />
Republic of the Rio Grande was also celebrated<br />
in 2000 and was marked by the first “inauguration<br />
of the President of the Republic<br />
of the Rio Grande,” an event which will<br />
become an annual opportunity to promote<br />
and encourage the development of <strong>Laredo</strong>’s<br />
heritage tourism.<br />
In 1999, the Foundation donated $20,000 to<br />
the City of <strong>Laredo</strong> as part of a matching grant<br />
to fund the rehabilitation of the historic<br />
Benavides-Herrera home at 802 Grant Street as<br />
a visitors’ center.<br />
As part of its mission of historic preservation<br />
and downtown development, the San<br />
Agustin bench replacement project represents<br />
$50,000 of private investment for beautification<br />
of a public park. Another $30,000 is<br />
expected to be raised by project completion<br />
in 2000.<br />
The Republic of the Rio Grande Museum<br />
hosts guided tours for school-age children and<br />
adults year-round and makes presentations to<br />
schools, detention facilities, civic groups, and<br />
travel writers on a regular basis. The Webb<br />
County Heritage Foundation also provides<br />
numerous free publications in English and<br />
Spanish on subjects related to border history,<br />
heritage, landmarks, and folklore.<br />
The Webb County Heritage Foundation<br />
office is located in the old Mercado building at<br />
500 Flores Avenue. Office hours are Monday<br />
through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.<br />
The Republic of the Rio Grande Museum is<br />
located at 1005 Zaragoza Street. Museum hours<br />
are Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to<br />
4 p.m. and Sunday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. The museum<br />
is closed on Mondays.<br />
WEBB COUNTY<br />
HERITAGE<br />
FOUNDATION<br />
❖<br />
The Webb County Heritage<br />
Foundation archives historic<br />
documents, maps, and photographs.<br />
Sharing the Heritage ✦ 71
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