Discover Brownsville

Brownsville combines bike and hiking trails with historic museums, a zoo, and places that tell the story of the region. When planning your stay, it helps to consider the differences: trails vary in length, surface, and scenery; museums each focus on different subjects, from railroad history to regional collections.

Choose trails by surface and scenery

The 9-mile Historic Battlefield Trail runs through Brownsville as a hiking and biking trail, connecting Linear Park with Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park. At Linear Park, trail amenities include rest areas, drinking fountains, and information panels; there is also a public repair station. The Paseo de la Resaca System, meanwhile, includes 7 miles of paved hiking and biking trails. It was connected to the 9-mile Historic Battlefield Trail in 2006. These distances and the paved surface provide concrete points of comparison when choosing trails by length and terrain.

For a different kind of route, head to Monte Bella Park, which has about 6.2 miles of mountain biking trails on an unpaved singletrack loop with small climbs and tight turns. If you’re looking for nature trails rather than a loop, consider Resaca de la Palma State Park, which offers more than 10 miles of them. The trails are accessible by tram, on foot, or by bicycle; private vehicles are not allowed in the park. The sites therefore differ not only in trail length, but also in trail type and access.

At Resaca de la Palma State Park, Texas ebony and anacua trees line the banks of the resaca, an oxbow lake. The trees fringe the water, giving the nature trails a distinctive connection to the landscape. If you want to include both bike paths and nature trails in your stay, you can consider them separately by surface, route type, and scenery rather than treating them as interchangeable routes.

Wildlife at Gladys Porter Zoo

Gladys Porter Zoo is located in central Brownsville and covers 31 acres. Lush tropical plants are as much a part of the scene as the approximately 1,600 animals. The Small World area has a nursery and a petting area where children can interact with domesticated animals. This area adds an opportunity to meet animals to the zoo visit, while the zoo’s size and plant life offer another impression of the grounds.

Museums and preserved buildings

The Historic Brownsville Museum is housed in the former Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, built in 1928. The building is recognized as a Texas Historical Landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The museum’s Simon Celaya Building houses Rio Grande Engine No. 1, a wood-burning, narrow-gauge Baldwin locomotive from 1872. A visit thus combines a historic railroad station with a specific piece of railroad history.

The Brownsville Heritage Museum traces the development of the city and surrounding regions through photographs, maps, costumes, and artifacts. It was redesigned in 2009 with interactive exhibits. The Brownsville Historical Association offers guided tours of the museum. For a closer look at architectural history, visit the Stillman House Museum, one of Brownsville’s oldest surviving buildings. Original windows, shutters, and doors have been preserved, along with the courtyards.

Old City Cemetery was established in 1853, recognized by the Texas Historical Commission as an outstanding historic landmark, and added to the National Register of Historic Places. The Old City Cemetery Center has a permanent exhibition on the history of the cemetery. The visitor area is currently accessible by appointment only, as well as through various programs and tours throughout the year. If you plan to visit, be sure to factor the appointment requirement into your plans.

Experience Palo Alto Battlefield

The visitor area at Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park features indoor and outdoor exhibits, as well as the 15-minute video “War on the Rio Grande,” shown in English and Spanish. Palo Alto Battlefield Overlook offers an excellent view of the battlefield. Together with the Historic Battlefield Trail leading to the park, these places bring both the history of the battlefield and the different ways it is presented into focus.

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Go to the main travel overview: Cameron.