The Polly Texas Pioneer Association of Bandera has partnered with TexasTejano.com to bring the nationally recognized traveling exhibit A Tejano Son of Texas to the Bandera Frontier Museum.
The exhibit, which opened June 21 and will remain so at BMS and other satellite locations through July 26, will accompany the Smithsonian’s Crossroads: Change in Rural America exhibit, a comprehensive program exploring the challenges and transformations faced by rural communities across the United States.
Crossroads: Change in Rural America highlights the diverse cultures, histories, and economic shifts that have shaped rural life, with an emphasis on stories of resilience, identity, and change. The Bandera installation focuses on how these broader themes play out in the Texas Hill Country and surrounding rural areas.
A Tejano Son of Texas highlights the life and legacy of J.P. “Polly” Rodriguez, one of the first Tejano settlers in Bandera County. The exhibit explores the important role of Native Tejanos in shaping early Texas and the Hill Country.
Rodriguez was born in 1829 in Zaragoza, Coahuila y Texas, Mexico. The exhibit traces key moments in his life and Texas history, including:
• Texas colonization and development in the 1840s
• U.S. Army expansion and frontier road and fort building
• Rodriguez’s service with the 2nd Cavalry from 1855 to 1861 during frontier conflicts
• His role in the Civil War as a Texas Ranger
• Postwar election as County Commissioner and Justice of the Peace
• Founding of the J.P. Rodriguez Settlement with 30 Tejano families
• A 35-year ministry as a Methodist preacher from 1877 to 1914 Rudi Rodriguez, chairman of the Polly Texas Pioneer Association and president of TexasTejano. com, said the partnership with the Smithsonian is an honor.
“This exhibit provides an important opportunity to recognize the vital contributions of Native Tejanos in the development of Texas and the American Southwest,” he said.
The Polly Texas Pioneer Association works to preserve the heritage of the Texas Hill Country by restoring historic properties and offering educational programs about early settlers.
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