Brownsville

At the southern tip of Texas, where the Rio Grande flows into the Gulf of Mexico, lies the city near which SpaceX launches rockets into the sky from its Starbase launch site. A trip to Brownsville combines border culture and history with subtropical nature preserves, a remarkable zoo, and the beaches of South Padre Island.

Where the War with Mexico Began

In 1846, the U.S. Army built Fort Texas here, later renamed Fort Brown, and the first battles of the Mexican-American War took place at Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. After the war, the Rio Grande became the border, and Brownsville grew up across from the Mexican city of Matamoros. During the Civil War, the city was an important port for Confederate cotton smuggling; the last land battle of the war took place in May 1865 at Palmito Ranch. Today Brownsville has a strong Mexican American character, and you'll hear Spanish everywhere.

Sights in Brownsville

The Gladys Porter Zoo is considered one of the finest smaller zoos in the U.S. and is known for its breeding successes with endangered species. Palo Alto Battlefield National Historical Park commemorates the 1846 battle and explains the war from both perspectives. Downtown you'll find historic buildings such as the Stillman House and the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception. The resacas, old river channels lined with palms and ponds, shape many neighborhoods. Nature lovers head to Sabal Palm Sanctuary, home to one of the last remaining stands of native palm forest, and to Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge, where with a little luck you may spot ocelots.

Eating and Going Out in Brownsville

The cuisine is border cuisine: barbacoa de cabeza on Sunday mornings, tacos de trompo, tamales, menudo, and pan dulce from local bakeries. Fish and shrimp come fresh from the Gulf; the Port of Brownsville is one of the largest shrimp ports in Texas. Small bars, cafés, and live-music venues have settled in downtown. An important date on the calendar is Charro Days in February, a festival with parades, music, and traditional costumes that celebrates the friendship with Matamoros.

Space Travel on the Gulf Coast

Since SpaceX built its Starbase east of the city, many visitors come to see the enormous Starship rockets. Starbase is now its own municipality; during tests and launches, the road and beach at Boca Chica are closed. Viewpoints on South Padre Island and in Port Isabel are popular for watching launches from a safe distance.

Getting Around Brownsville and Best Time to Visit

Brownsville South Padre Island International Airport offers connections to Houston; Harlingen's airport is about half an hour away. You'll need a car to reach the beaches and natural areas. The best time to visit is the mild winter; summer is hot and humid, and hurricane season runs from June to November. Excursions lead to South Padre Island, with its beaches and a sea turtle rescue center, as well as to Boca Chica, where you can see rockets at Starbase from a distance. If you plan to visit Matamoros, check the current travel advisories, as Tamaulipas is considered a high-risk area.