Brownsville History

Rich in history, Brownsville is one of the States’ most historic cities and has multiple sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rich in history, Brownsville is one of the States’ most historic cities and has multiple sites listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Brownsville played an instrumental part in the Texas Revolution, the Mexican–American War and in the American Civil War.

Many events that took place here have profoundly influenced the development of Texas and the United States. Visit our museums to learn more about Brownsville’s place in history, or check out the Brownsville Historical Association’s website for more information.

Hear it first from the expert himself, and follow along as our very own Dr. Anthony Knopp, Brownsville Convention & Visitors Bureau Board member, historian, and University of Texas Rio Grande Valley Professor, shares his knowledge about Brownsville in a series called, Knopp Knows.

Fort Brown Post Hospital

Fort Brown Post Hospital The most prominent building of the post-Civil War reconstruction of Fort Brown was the Post Hospital. It was built in 1868 (completed in 1871) under the...

Commissary and Guardhouse

Commissary and Guardhouse The (Fort Brown) Commissary and Guardhouse was constructed in 1904, in part as a replacement for the original fort guardhouse. Iron bars were placed in the windows...

The Campaign for the Fort Brown Memorial Center

The Campaign for the Fort Brown Memorial Center U.S. Army troops left Fort Brown for the last time in 1944, when the 124th Cavalry, one of the last horse cavalry...

Resurgence

Resurgence It may sound strange, but sometimes it’s conflict that brings economic resources to a region. Such was the case during the U.S. Civil War, when the Confederacy transported southern...