Many places in the United States have experienced a historical event or era, but history has been a part of Brownsville for over 250 years.  Brownsville's history is rich with many events that occurred here, and many interesting and famous people who lived here.  Each of these individuals has contributed to the development of a city that was once only a remote wilderness.

The city of Brownsville has played an important part in European, Mexican and United States history.  Brownsville, originally part of the city of Matamoros, became a United States military outpost (Fort Brown) during the Mexican War. The new city, founded in 1848 and named after the adjacent fort, served an important role as a transportation center, a river port for steamboats bringing cargo from sailing ships coming to the Brazos Santiago pass, just north of the mouth of the Rio Grande River.  From this river port, cargoes were then dispatched by steamboat up the river to Roma and then sent to all areas of Northern Mexico by wagons.  It was a very strategic location.

Merchants were very active importing goods from all over the globe and distributing them throughout Northern Mexico.  These merchants' flourished and great fortunes were created.  They also developed the cattle industry in the southern part of Texas, the ranching culture that now exists throughout the West.  Irrigation brought the development of vast amounts of land cultivating vegetables, citrus, grain, and fiber crops. Later on railroad and air transportation united this rich area to the rest of the United States and the area prospered.  The many military events occurring here during the Mexican War, the Civil War and the Mexican Revolution were also important to both countries, Mexico and the United States.  Today, Brownsville thrives as a commercial, agricultural and industrial community.

Charles Stillman planned the Brownsville town site in 1848.  The earliest settlers were families from many different nationalities, Mexican, English, Scots, Spaniards, French and Americans.  Many veterans of the Mexican War also settled in the new town.  Settlers included persons of Protestant, Jewish and Catholic faiths.  These families were fluent in various languages and therefore, a very tolerant international community developed.  They intermarried, forming a dynamic community, working closely with their neighbors in Matamoros.  They became known as the twin cities of the border.

Religious communities began settling in the town in 1848.  Among the first were the Presbyterian, Catholic, Episcopalian and Methodist.  Religious schools were built first and public education followed in 1854.  Construction on the Immaculate Conception Cathedral began in 1852 to make it the oldest church in South Texas and an outstanding Gothic Revival edifice.  The City Hall was built in 1850 and served as City office, county court house and market place.  Today it is the oldest City hall in the state of Texas and may be the oldest west of the Mississippi.  Brownsville's architecture, like that of Matamoros, is similar to New Orleans, and is unique within the State.  There are many examples of this architecture as well as territorial styles to see and appreciate around the city.

When one visits Brownsville to see the locations of important military engagements, the beautiful architecture, and the museums that detail the very interesting historical past, you cannot help but develop a sense of pride for a past era.