Deep in the heart of South Texas exists one of the state's great natural treasures. South Padre Island is often thought of as a spring and summer destination, with its abundance of outdoor activities, warm temperatures, and excellent swimming water. However, it is the fall and winter seasons that offer a unique and beautiful perspective of “the island.” --- Getting cabin fever on the island? Head back across the Queen Isabella Causeway and check out the famous Port Isabel lighthouse.
Photo by Daniel Cavazos
Deep in the heart of South Texas exists one of the state's great natural treasures. South Padre Island is often thought of as a spring and summer destination, with its abundance of outdoor activities, warm temperatures, and excellent swimming water. However, it is the fall and winter seasons that offer a unique and beautiful perspective of “the island.”
The fall and winter seasons are often thought as dreary, but South Padre Island offers many sunny days from November through February.
Photo by Daniel Cavazos
The fall and winter seasons are often thought as dreary, but South Padre Island offers many sunny days from November through February.
'Texas Legacy in Lights' puts audiences in the midst of Texas history.
A brand new way to experience the history of the Lone Star State has debuted at the Gonzales Memorial Museum, located about an hour's drive from San Antonio: Texas Legacy in Lights bills itself as the "world's first permanent, narrative-driven, live-action projection mapping film."
The film was produced and directed by Gonzales native John Franklin Rinehart, who used 3D mapping projection to bring to life the story of the Texas Revolution starting in 1835, including the Battle of Gonzales. It is projected in HD on the museum’s façade after dark, and audiences are encouraged to sit on the museum lawn to take in the one-of-a-kind visual presentation that puts them in the middle of the action.
"It's a great experience for our city," says Gonzales Mayor Isaac Anzaldua. "Everybody here seems to be enjoying themselves, and with this, they begin to understand where they came from. We still embody the same spirit of 'come and take it' that they had back in 1835."
The film delves into the little-known history of the iconic "Come and Take It" flag created by Sarah DeWitt, who sewed it from her daughter's wedding dress. Peggy Schott (Fear the Walking Dead) portrays the iconic Texas pioneer.
"I had family in Texas before the Revolution who were there, and I was so excited to join this project," Schott says in a press release. "It's hard to find stories of the women from that time. I'm honored to play Sarah DeWitt and to tell her story in a way that will inspire people for years to come."
An image from the immersive new Texas history projection show. Photo courtesy of Texas Legacy in Lights
Most stories of the Texas Revolution focus on the more famous moments at the end of the war, such as the fall of the Alamo and the decisive victory at San Jacinto. Texas Legacy of Lights, instead, highlights the opening volleys in the war for independence from Mexico, many of which took place in and around Gonzales.
"One hundred years from now," Mayor Anzaldua says, "our community will look back and see how we continued to embody the Come and Take It spirit — a spirit of determination, love, and peace. To know that we share a part in shaping the future of our great city is exciting and very rewarding."
The outdoor presentation runs Tuesday-Sunday at 8:25 pm and 9:15 pm at the Gonzales Memorial Museum (414 Smith St). Screenings are free and open to the public. Watch the trailer for the film here:
An image from the immersive new Texas history projection show. Photo courtesy of Texas Legacy in Lights