Texas Mountain Trail

01/17/2026

Happy ! 🌌

Look up tonight and you’ll spot the waning crescent Moon, the Moon’s final sliver before it hits reset. This delicate phase means the Moon is slowly fading from the night sky, clearing the way for something special…

🌑 The New Moon arrives this Sunday!
That means darker skies, perfect for stargazing, spotting faint constellations, and enjoying the universe without moonlight stealing the show.

⭐ Shoutout! ⭐
Congrats to Camp Davis RV Park, officially recognized as a Night Sky Friendly Location in partnership with McDonald Observatory! Protecting dark skies helps everyone enjoy moments like this, from crescent Moons to distant galaxies.

Clear skies and happy stargazing!

01/17/2026

Submit your heritage-focused event to https://texastimetravel.com/events/submit-your-event/ for a chance to be featured on our statewide calendar and reach travellers interested in Texas history and culture.

01/15/2026

The Museum of the Big Bend announces their new Director, Dr. Emily Wilkinson!
Welcome to the Texas Mountain Trail Region Dr. Wilkinson!

We’re excited to welcome Dr. Emily Wilkinson as the new Director of the Museum of the Big Bend! 🎉

With a background in museum leadership, archaeology, and public art, including serving as Executive Director of the Texas Tech Public Art Program. Dr. Wilkinson brings a wealth of experience and a strong passion for community engagement and education.

She’s eager to build on the museum’s strong foundation, connect more deeply with Sul Ross and the community, and expand programs for visitors of all ages. Dr. Wilkinson is optimistic about MOBB’s future and looks forward to helping share its incredible stories and collections.

01/13/2026

Celebrating Alarcón Elementary School History! 🏫

Today for we’re shining a spotlight on a true local treasure, Lorenzo G. Alarcón Elementary School in San Elizario!

Did you know that the historic core of Alarcón Elementary was originally built in 1925 and designed by the renowned architectural firm Trost & Trost? This iconic firm was responsible for many beloved and lasting structures throughout the Southwest, and Alarcón is a special example of their educational architecture in our community.

For nearly a century, Alarcón Elementary has been a cornerstone of learning and community life, nurturing generations of students and serving families with pride and tradition. In fact, the school recently celebrated 85 years of service, reflecting its enduring role in shaping young minds right here in San Elizario.

📍 Located right across from the historic Presidio church and plaza, the building’s design echoes the architectural character of our region and connects students to the rich heritage of the area.

From its beautiful historic roots to the vibrant community it supports today, Alarcón Elementary stands as a testament to our past and our future.

Photo Credits 📸: https://aes.seisd.net/family/alarcon-85th-anniversary https://www.elpasotimes.com/story/news/education/2016/01/18/san-elizario-isd-use-eminent-domain/78850738/

01/11/2026

Submit your heritage-focused event to https://texastimetravel.com/events/submit-your-event/ for a chance to be featured on our statewide calendar and reach travelers interested in Texas history and culture. 🤠

01/11/2026

Winter nights = stellar sights! 🌙

The winter sky brings a whole new lineup of cosmic wonders, and thanks to shorter days, Star Parties at McDonald Observatory start earlier than you might think.

Grab your favourite people, bundle up with a blanket, and join us for a Star Party! You’ll enjoy a guided constellation tour in the Helen S. Martin Star Amphitheatre and peek at galaxies, stars, and more through multiple telescopes in the Rebecca Gale Telescope Park. The experience lasts about two hours and is fun for all ages.

Check the calendar, pick your night, and get ready to look up in awe. The universe is waiting! 🚀

Photo Credits 📸: //www.flickr.com/photos/roberthensley/7715054752/in/photostream/https://www.flickr.com/photos/roberthensley/7715054752/in/photostream/https://www.flickr.com/photos/roberthensley/7715054752/in/photostream/

01/06/2026

It’s ! ✨

Today, we’re spotlighting the iconic Hotel Paisano in Marfa, designed by Trost & Trost Architects and completed in 1930, one of Henry Trost’s final architectural masterpieces.

With its Spanish Revival charm, the hotel features a classic stucco façade, decorative arches, red tile roof, and wrought-iron balconies overlooking a beautiful courtyard fountain. Step inside to find colorful tilework, cozy fireplaces, and soaring wood-beamed ceilings.

Built during the Great Depression, Hotel Paisano quickly became a gathering place for ranchers, travelers, and the local community. Its legend grew in 1955 when Hollywood arrived for the filming of Giant, hosting stars Elizabeth Taylor, Rock Hudson, and James Dean.

After decades of highs and lows, the hotel was saved in 2001, preserving a beloved piece of Marfa and Presidio County history. 🏨💛

Photo Credits 📸: https://www.expedia.com/Marfa-Hotels-The-Hotel-Paisano.h94618832.Hotel-Information?pwaThumbnailDialog=thumbnail-gallery&pwaDialogNested=media-gallery

01/03/2026

It may not be , but tonight we’re getting a FULL MOON! 🌕

The year’s first Full Moon, known as the Wolf Moon 🐺, gets its name from the howling wolves of winter. In the Anglo-Saxon tradition, it’s also called the Moon After Yule. Thank you to McDonald Observatory for the moon phase update!

Best viewing time: 3am–4am
Set those alarms and step outside if you can. This is the first full moon of the new year, and it’s a special one!

Are you planning to stay up and watch it, or will you be catching it in the early morning?

Photo Credits 📸: https://medium.com//wolf-supermoon-january-2026-how-to-see-the-first-full-moon-of-the-year-979c673ef4e6

12/25/2025

Warmest wishes to everyone for the holiday season. 🎁❄️

12/23/2025

Perched proudly on the hill since 1916, El Paso High School is one of architect Henry C. Trost’s most iconic masterpieces. Today is ! 😄

More than a century later, this historic beauty is still standing strong, still educating students, and still defining the city’s skyline, proof that great design truly stands the test of time.

And if these walls could talk… 👻 Many say El Paso High is one of the most haunted spots in the city, with stories of shadowy figures, unexplained footsteps, and lights flickering long after the halls are empty.

What’s your favorite memory or detail about El Paso High? The view? The architecture? The legacy? Let’s talk ⬇️

Photo Credits 📸: https://www.henrytrost.org/letters/el-paso-high-school/

12/22/2025

Visit the Chinati Foundation next time you visit Marfa TX! The Chinati Foundation is one of those places that stays with you long after you leave.

Founded by Donald Judd, Chinati isn’t a typical museum. Judd believed art should live in permanent dialogue with its surroundings, so he transformed former military buildings and the open desert into spaces where art, architecture, and landscape feel inseparable. His large scale works, especially the concrete installations stretching across the land, feel grounded, quiet, and powerful all at once.

What makes Chinati especially compelling is that Judd didn’t do this alone. The foundation features permanent installations by artists he deeply respected, including Dan Flavin, Carl Andre, John Chamberlain, Roni Horn, Ilya Kabakov, Claes Oldenburg and Coosje van Bruggen, and Richard Long. Each artist’s work is given space to breathe, allowing viewers to experience it slowly and intentionally.

There’s something rare about Chinati: no rushing, no distractions, just art, light, and desert silence. It invites reflection and rewards patience.

Have you been to Chinati, or is it on your list? What artist or installation left the biggest impression on you? 🤔

Photo Credits 📸: Alex Marks | https://chinati.org/hours-locations/

09/25/2025

This is bucket list stuff!

Hueco Tanks State Park & Historic Site - Texas Parks and Wildlife contains one of the most significant collections of rock paintings in North America. It showcases more than 3,000 individual rock paintings created by prehistoric peoples over thousands of years.

Hidden in shelters, crevices, and caves, the artwork at Hueco Tanks includes various subjects such as religious masks, symbols related to rain, lightning, and corn, geometric patterns, and more. These images help serve as visual records of the spiritual beliefs and daily lives of the many groups who inhabited or visited the area, including ancient hunter-gatherers known as Archaic Indians, the Jornada Mogollon agriculturalists, and later, Mescalero Apache and other Plains Indian peoples.

The site remains sacred and is still visited by Native American descendants. It is recognized as a National Historic Landmark, State Antiquities Landmark, and is listed in the National Register of Historic Places.

As we approach Texas Archeology Month in October, Hueco Tanks is a prime example of how archeology uncovers and protects the cultural heritage of Texas. It invites all to explore and appreciate the ancient stories that deepen our understanding of the region’s past. Join us in celebrating the archeological heritage of Texas: https://thc.texas.gov/tam

📸: Travel Texas, Chris Zebo