Texas Tropical Trail Board of Directors
4 linear feet
A2014-058
1890-1945 (unknown)
Located in the state’s southernmost region, the Texas Tropical Trail Region covers 20 counties, 23,000 square miles, and is home to 1.7 million residents. For over 200 miles in both directions, the Tropical Trail borders the nation of Mexico along the Border Byway and the Gulf of Mexico along the Gulf Coast Byway. The region boasts a variety of experiences including diverse cuisine, music, nature, history, culture, and architecture. Historic sites include battlegrounds, architecture, museums, lighthouses, and landmarks. For the adventurous, the region offers beachcombing, hiking, hunting, camping, golfing, boating, fishing, and a wide variety of water sports. Nature lovers can take in birding, wildlife preserves, ranches, sanctuaries, and wetlands. And the mild weather is perfect year-round for multicultural and historic events and festivals.
The organization promotes heritage travel. The Texas Tropical Trail Region’s unique attributes and resources will be preserved and developed to create a strong economic impact in our communities. The Texas Tropical Trail Region and its partners identify, preserve, interpret, and promote the natural, historic, and cultural resources of South Texas. The THTP is based around 10 scenic driving trails created in 1968 by Gov. John Connally and the Texas Highway Department (now the Texas Department of Transportation) as a marketing tool. The trails were established in conjunction with the HemisFair, an international exposition that commemorated the 250th anniversary of the founding of San Antonio.
In 1997, the State Legislature charged the THC to create a statewide heritage tourism program. The THC responded with a program based on local, regional, and state partnerships, centered on the 10 scenic driving trails. These trails serve as the nucleus of 10 heritage regions, and include heritage tourism attractions and communities both on and off the trail. The program began with the establishment of the Texas Forts Trail Region in 1998. Other heritage regions made a formal application to the program, demonstrating knowledge of area attractions and broad support from organizations and local government. The suite of heritage regions was completed in 2005 with the additions of the Texas Pecos and Hill Country Trail Regions. The THTP received national recognition with the Preserve America Presidential Award in 2005. This award was given for exemplary accomplishment in the preservation and sustainable use of America's heritage assets, which has enhanced community life while honoring the nation's history. The following year, the program was awarded a Preserve America grant for developing the Heritage Tourism Guidebook and for providing heritage tourism training across the state.
Taken from the Texas Tropical Trail Region Website at http://texastropicaltrail.com/about
The records contain administrative, financial, correspondence files, and publicity materials. Books about civic tourism and wildlife are included. Audio DVDs, slide shows, and flash drives comprise the other formats in the collection.
Arranged by Series, then chronologically Series I: Administrative Files Series II: Financial Files Series III: Correspondence Series IV: Printed Materials Series V: Books Series VI: CDs Series VII: Photographs Series VIII: USB Drives
South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Open for Research
Permission to publish, reproduce, distribute, or use by any and all other current or future developed methods or procedures must be obtained in writing from South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville. All rights are reserved and retained regardless of current or future development or laws that may apply to fair use standards.
Texas Tropical Trail Region Records, A2014-058.XXXX, South Texas Archives, James C. Jernigan Library, Texas A&M University-Kingsville
Need assistance with citing our materials? Contact us or visit our research help page!
A2014-058 – Gift of Nancy Deviney, Executive Director
A2014-058 was processed and Finding Aid created by Lori Atkins in 2016. EAD was encoded by Matt Tallant in 2016