Downtown Harlingen Walking Tours is a local project submitted on the “Tell Your Story Page.” Read about this guided walking tour that helps residents and visitors learn and experience the history of downtown Harlingen, with the added bonus of spurring downtown revitalization.
Project Name: Downtown Harlingen Walking Tours
Location: Harlingen
Region: Texas Tropical Trail Region
Submitted by: Cheryl LaBerge
This project helps achieve the following Statewide Plan Goals:
Goal 5: Learn and Experience History through Place
Project Description:
Downtown Harlingen hosts a free walking tour most* Saturdays this winter, through March 2012. The walking tours depart from Java Café, 204 E. Jackson at 9:00 a.m. and last approximately one hour. The tours are free and open to the public on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants should wear comfortable walking shoes, dress for the weather, and come prepared to have fun. Tour participants will hear about frontier days, mid-century boom times, and modern Harlingen. For more information, contact Cheryl LaBerge, Downtown Manager, at (956) 216-4910.
*No tours the first Saturday of each month, which is Jackson Street Market Days.
What community needs/issues did your project or program address?
Sharing local history with residents and visitors.
Who were all the partners involved? How did they contribute to the project’s success?
Volunteer tour guides; media to help promote the activity.
How did you fund this project? Please list the types of funds involved and how you were successful in securing them (grants, donations, city/county funds, etc.).
No funding. This is a free offering, and is run by volunteers.
What is the future of this project? If applicable, what are the next steps?
Will have to see after this initial season ends. Might need to train additional volunteer guides, offer tours on weekdays rather than just on weekends, and/or develop promotional materials.
Based on your experience with this project, what tips or pieces of advice can you share with the preservation community?
Make sure activities are fun. A guided walking tour helps residents and visitors learn and experience the history of the community. It is hoped this will lead to better understanding, interest in, and support for downtown revitalization efforts.
For more information:
Contact Name: Cheryl LaBerge
Email: cheryllaberge@myharlingen.us
Organization: Downtown Harlingen
Website: http://www.downtownharlingen.com
