Laredo

Arts & Culture

Our Historic Streets and Districts

You may recognize the famous phrase “the streets of Laredo.” Walked by pioneers, independent spirits, politicians, Indians, conquistadors, modern day nomads, and country-men with sworn allegiance to seven different countries over the last 261 years; these streets are imbued with a storied past heading into a fascinating future. This mix with the present is evident to the many visitors today as they walk the various streets and historic districts of this community on the edge of the country.

San Agustin Historic District

Receiving national designation in 1973, San Agustin Historic District is the oldest section of Laredo, founded by Tomas Sanchez in 1755. New Spain officially designated the settlement as a villa and christened it San Agustin de Laredo, after a town in Santander, Spain. A plaza mayor or central plaza was laid out, and porciones or Spanish land grants were issued to heads of households. The anchor icon of the district today is the towering spire of San Agustin Cathedral overlooking the plaza of the same name, San Agustin Plaza.

Old Mercado

During the 1880s, the city of Laredo began to expand northward from San Agustin Plaza. The building of a new City Hall in 1883-1884 caused businesses, hotels, and restaurants to locate north of the San Agustin Plaza. The City Hall area was known as El Mercado as its rear portion housed stalls for vendors. The feature structure of this district houses the Laredo Center for the Arts and the Webb County Heritage Foundation today.

St. Peter’s Historic District

Bounded by Santa Maria Ave., the Texas-Mexican tracks, the Missouri Pacific tracks and Hidalgo Street on the south, the St. Peter’s neighborhood was developed between 1881 and World War 1. The neighborhood was named for St. Peter’s Church, on 1500 Matamoros, which was constructed in 1896-1897. It was Laredo’s second Catholic Church and the first for English speakers. Many of the homes and the Church structure remain in working condition today.

Fort McIntosh Historic District

Fort McIntosh was designated a National Historic District in 1975, and is a State Archaeological Landmark. Currently serving as the home campus of Laredo Community College, the fort was established as Camp Crawford in March 1849 near the point of an old Spanish and Indian river crossing, known as Paso del Indio . By 1850, the fort was renamed in honor of Lieutenant Colonel James Simmons McIntosh, a hero who lost his life after the Battle of Molino del Rey.

Arts & Culture

Galleries and museums run the gamut from historical structures to newly built modern galleries, each dedicated to its own vision. While visiting Laredo, spend an afternoon enjoying an exhibit or two. Visit these websites for hours of operation:

Texas A&M International University Art Gallery

Republic of the Rio Grande Museum

Laredo College – Guadalupe and Lilia Martinez Fine Arts Center

Laredo Little Theatre

Laredo Theater Guild International

Helen Richter Watson Art Gallery

Points of Interest

In 1746, the King of Spain directed Don Jose Escandon to explore and settle the area between Tampico, Mexico, and the San Antonio River in Texas. Escandon granted Don Tomas Sanchez permission to settle on the north bank of the Rio Grande River. On May 15, 1755, Tomas Sanchez began settlement and chose this area because of an Indian ford on the river, Paso de lndio.

San Agustin Cathedral, 201 San Agustin, 1872

This church began as a hut on the corner of Zaragoza and San Agustin in the days of Laredo’s founding in 1755; its 2nd construction in 1789 was a small stone church (see the brick outline in front of the church); the 3rd is present structure. The clock was struck by lightning twice in its history. Founded by a Catholic population, tradition required that the deceased be buried on holy ground, that which we are walking on. Many bodies of Laredo’s earliest settlers remain buried where we stand today. Amongst the dead, Laredo’s very own founder, Tomas Sanchez, is believed ...

Republic of the Rio Grande Museum

This was home to Bartolomé Garcia, great grandson of Laredo’s founder (Thomas Sanchez) and 3 time Mayor of Laredo. The structure served as the capitol of The Republic of the Rio Grande.

Casa Ortiz

The rear portion of the structure dates back to the late 1700s, but the front was constructed 1829-30. The dining room holds the only original piece (a built in closet with mirrors). This home is rumored to have underground tunnels and gold buried in the property.

The Tack Room

‘The Best Little Steakhouse in South Texas since 1982!’ The Tack Room is Laredo’s original bar and grill! Located next to La Posada Hotel in downtown Laredo, The Tack Room offers fine dining in a historic and charming atmosphere. History of The Tack Room: The Tack Room is recognized by the National Registry of Historic Buildings as being the very first telephone exchange for Laredo and Nuevo Laredo dating back to 1860. The building later housed one of Laredo’s pioneer families, the Bruni family, and later a Customs agency when acquired by La Posada. The building was converted to a ...