A special feature of the Webb County Heritage Foundation’s January 11 cocktail reception celebrating the 180th Anniversary of the Republic of the Río Grande is the unveiling of plans for a new museum exhibit showcasing the Republic of the Río Grande.
The event begins at 6 p.m. at the Republic of the Río Grande Museum on the grounds of La Posada Hotel.
According to Margarita Araiza, executive director of the WCHF, EXP Studios of Massachusetts was selected to design the new exhibit for the museum.
“We were thrilled that a design team with a client list that includes the American Heritage Museum, Plimoth Plantation, the Denver Art Museum, the Bob Bullock Museum, the National Constitution Center, the Western Heritage Museum, and the National Archives and Records Administration, among others, would be interested in helping tell the story of the Republic of the Rio Grande in Laredo, Texas,” said Araiza.
EXP Studios has international expertise in the fields of education, visitor experience development, museum planning and design, and museum exhibit design and installation.
The new exhibit will tell the story of Laredo’s unique chapter in history, the Republic of the Rio Grande, which lasted 10 months in the mid nineteenth century. Frustrated with boundary problems and Mexico’s centralist regime, citizens banded together to form their own sovereign state which was composed of Coahuila y Tejas, Tamaulipas and Nuevo Leon – hence the three stars on the flag. On January 7, 1840, the Republic of the Río Grande was proclaimed by constitutional convention and Laredo was named as its capital. A small structure across the square from San Agustín Church became its headquarters. That structure now houses the Republic of the Río Grande Museum.
The Jan. 11 reception will recognize past presidents of the Republic of the Río Grande – an honor bestowed annually by the WCHF on individuals exemplifying commitment to historic preservation, heritage education, or preservation of historic architecture.
Araiza said the reception marks the beginning of a year of anniversaries commemorating various significant markers in Laredo’s history including the 265th anniversary of the founding of Laredo in May and the 40th anniversary of the Webb County Heritage Foundation.
“We are looking forward to more attention given to our city’s rich historic narrative and we welcome the collaboration of La Posada Hotel and the City of Laredo as we kick off 2020 with this 180th commemoration of the Republic of the Río Grande. No other community in Texas can boast being the capital of its own country!” said Araiza, adding, “We welcome everyone to join our events throughout the year and learn more about our community’s contributions to world history.”
A capital campaign is underway to help underwrite the costs of this new exhibit and collateral educational materials. For sponsorship information, contact Araiza at the WCHF at (956) 727-0977 or visit www.webbheritage.org.
