Tag: Brownsville

Hands-On Amelia Earhart Exhibition Brings STEM Learning to South Texas Families

Adventures in the Sky: Amelia’s Journey is now a permanent exhibition at The Children’s Museum of Brownsville. Photo: Children’s Museum of Brownsville, used with permission.

Adventures in the Sky: Amelia’s Journey Takes Flight in Brownsville

SAN ANTONIO — Two of Texas’s leading children’s museums, The DoSeum in San Antonio and Children’s Museum of Brownsville (CMB), are proud to announce their collaborative presentation of Adventures in the Sky: Amelia’s Journey, a high-energy, family-centered exhibition inspired by the legacy of aviation pioneer Amelia Earhart and her historic ties to Brownsville, Texas. (The DoSeum/Children’s Museum of Brownsville, 2025)

The exhibition officially opened to the public at the Children’s Museum of Brownsville during a grand opening celebration on Saturday, November 22, and is now a permanent exhibition at CMB.

A Story of Flight, Courage, and South Texas Possibility

Adventures in the Sky: Amelia’s Journey invites children to step into the story of flight through hands-on exploration, playful engineering challenges, and immersive environments that connect history to the future of STEM.

Inspired by Amelia Earhart’s fearless spirit, and a remarkable chapter of her aviation legacy linked to Brownsville, it encourages young learners to ask bold questions:

  • How do planes fly?
  • What makes someone a trailblazer?
  • What dreams are possible when science meets courage?

Through interactive components designed for early learners through upper elementary ages, families explore physics, aerodynamics, problem-solving, and perseverance, all anchored in a story that belongs to this region.

The Power of Two Museums, One Shared Mission

The DoSeum and the Children’s Museum of Brownsville came together with a simple belief: children thrive when communities invest in curiosity.

As exhibition collaborators, the two institutions pooled creative development, educational design support, and operational expertise to ensure a seamless, high-quality experience for South Texas families. This partnership strengthens a regional pipeline of learning, making it easier for children to encounter consistent, STEM-rich experiences whether they visit museums in San Antonio, Brownsville, or anywhere in between.

“When children see their local history reflected in exciting, hands-on experiences, it changes the way they imagine their future. This collaboration is about building bridges between cities, between institutions, and most importantly between kids and opportunity.”
— Meredith Doby, Chief Creative Officer, The DoSeum

“Amelia’s Journey is a love letter to South Texas, the dreamers, the builders, and the next generation of innovators. We’re grateful to have the support of The DoSeum, for standing shoulder-to-shoulder with us to bring this exhibit to life for our community.”
— Felipe Peña III, Executive Director, Children’s Museum of Brownsville

This partnership reflects a growing movement among cultural and educational institutions to share resources, expertise, and imagination, ensuring children across the region, regardless of ZIP code, can access world-class learning experiences.

A Regional Investment in Families

Along with the recent Boca Chica to Mars exhibition, the launch of Adventures in the Sky: Amelia’s Journey is part of a broader expansion of STEM learning opportunities at CMB, including major new exhibition investments exceeding $1 million.

For families in Deep South Texas, this means more chances to learn together in spaces that are safe, joyful, culturally connected, and designed specifically for children. It also means local students can experience interactive science learning that research shows supports long-term academic confidence and interest in STEM careers.

Visit the Exhibition

Children’s Museum of Brownsville
501 E. Ringgold St.
Brownsville, TX

Families, school groups, and community partners are invited to visit and explore.

About the Children’s Museum of Brownsville

The Children’s Museum of Brownsville (CMB) creates innovative, playful learning environments for children ages birth to 11, serving children and families since 2005. Through exhibits, programs, and community collaborations, CMB nurtures imagination, cultural curiosity, and early STEM engagement for families across the Rio Grande Valley and Deep South Texas.

About The DoSeum

The DoSeum is San Antonio’s museum for children and a cornerstone of interactive learning. Celebrating its 10th anniversary, with roots dating back to 1995 when it first opened as the San Antonio Children’s Museum, The DoSeum has grown into one of the nation’s top children’s museums. Featuring interactive exhibits spanning science, math, art, and literacy, The DoSeum is committed to sparking curiosity and igniting imaginations for children, caregivers, and educators across the San Antonio community.

Cowboys, Romance, and Frontier Life: ‘Oklahoma!’ Takes the Stage at the Camille

‘Oklahoma!’ is now playing at the Camille Playhouse in Brownsville. Photo: Sandra Cruz

Now playing at the Camille Playhouse in Brownsville is “Oklahoma!” – a timeless American musical that combines a compelling story with vibrant music, offering a celebration of frontier life and the complexities of love and community. It features a score by Rodgers and Hammerstein, including unforgettable songs like “Oh, What a Beautiful Mornin'” and “People Will Say We’re in Love.” Set in the early 1900s, it follows the lives of two rival groups—farmers and cowboys—in the Oklahoma Territory, with romance blossoming between the spirited Laurey Williams and the charming Curly McLain.

From the brilliant minds of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, the Camille takes a trip to the turn of the 20th century with “Oklahoma!” With the rivalry between local farmers and cowboys, the setting of this show is full of conflict, but it’s also a love story of a farm girl and her choice between a cowboy and a farmhand. (Camille Playhouse, 2025)

Tickets are $25 for ages 3 and up and are available online or avoid the service charge and buy them at the box office. The lobby opens 30 minutes before the curtain and seating opens 30 minutes before curtain. Seating is on a first come, first serve basis.

Cast includes:

Brandon Binder – Curly
Leah Hollingshead – Laurey
Daniel Ramirez – Will Parker
Grecia Ortiz – Ado Annie Carnes
Valentina Capistran – Aunt Eller

Opening night on Friday was a wonderful start to the Camille’s presentation of this foot-stomping musical. The narrative strikes a balance between lighthearted moments and deeper themes and explores issues like jealousy, societal norms, and personal independence. The character-driven plot shines with its dynamic, well-developed roles, with excellent portrayals of Laurey by Leah Hollingshead and Curly by Brandon Binder. Their relationship stands at the forefront of the emotional core. A standout performance comes courtesy of Dean McElyea (Jud Fry) during the melancholy “Lonely Run” where Jud sings about his longing for a woman of his own and showcases the depth of the character. The lively choreography, paired with the energetic ensemble, brings the world of Oklahoma to life at the local level. Outstanding performances all around.

Despite some of its dated views on gender roles, “Oklahoma!” remains an important part of American musical theatre history. Its infectious energy, catchy tunes, and memorable characters continue to captivate audiences, making it a must-see for lovers of classic musicals. Do yourself a favor and stop by the Camille to experience this magical performance at its very best and discover the talent that Brownsville has to offer. Try and get the catchy “Oklahoma” tune out of your head. Congratulations to the cast and crew!

Now playing – February 1, 2, 7,8, and 9

Showtimes:

Friday 7p.m.
Saturday 2p.m. and 7p.m.
Sunday 2p.m.

Reconnecting with my home town: Veterans Park

Veterans Park in Brownsville. Photo: Sandra Cruz

Part one in a series of posts meant to help me reconnect with my home town and the areas around it while educating the public about the numerous places to see and experience. First of is Veterans Park in Brownsville. Last week I took a trip to see it for myself since I have never been here before, having been gone from the area for almost 20 years. What I found was a respectful and educational memorial to the areas’ veterans.

Veterans Park is located next to the city library and shares an entrance drive and parking.  It consists of veteran memorial walls and placards, a multi-purpose lawn, a walking path, and landscaping. Celebrating the rich heritage of veterans from the Brownsville community, this park is a beautiful living memorial. (City of Brownsville, 2020)

The park focuses on large concave concrete slabs that include the names of Brownsville area veterans from World War II to Afghanistan with each slab holding 40 names each. Currently there are more than 50,000 names of both living and deceased soldiers native to Brownsville. The center of the memorial contains three large flag poles centered on a concrete base with a start embedded within it. There is also a memorial to Medal of Honor Recipient, and Brownsville native, Sergeant Jose M Lopez.

The monument honors veterans from World War II to current conflicts, including the Afghanistan War and its Operation Enduring Freedom. The American Legion aimed to make the park an educational extension of the library by creating two murals showing the locations of conflicts on world maps from the 18th century to present.

If you decide to visit a park or trail, please abide Second Amended Emergency Order guidelines.  Protect yourself and others. Make sure you are wearing a face mask (face covering) and always practice social distancing.  Maintain distance–Stay 6 feet away from other people.  Avoid mass gathering. No crowds, no groups