As a new board member, and chairman of the Marketing Committee for the Camino Real Association, I am very honored and pleased to be contributing to the development of one of the nation’s newest National Historic Trails: El Camino Real de los Tejas.  The trail emanates from our southern border along the Rio Grande at Laredo and Guerrero and traverses through west, central, and east Texas counties and finally to Los Adaes in Louisiana.

Please come by and visit our booth at the Annual Historic Preservation Conference in Austin tomorrow from 8 AM - 6 PM.

www.thc.state.tx.us/annualconference/cofpdfs/AC_Bro_11.pdf

Preparing to invade Mexico 165 years ago, the unit under the command of General John E. Wool left interesting descriptions of the Winter Garden area of Texas.  Serving as war correspondent, scientist, translator and advisor with the unit marching from San Antonio, Texas to Guerrero, Coahuila was Josiah Gregg.  Born in Tennessee in 1806, Gregg’s family had moved to Missouri when he was six years of age.  He studied law and medicine and is said to have practiced both professions.  Living in Arkansas in 1831 Josiah joined a trade caravan to Santa Fe, New Mexico.  Life in the Mexican Province of New Mexico appealed to Josiah for he took a job as a bookkeeper and stayed in Santa Fe.  In 1844 he published a two volume book titled Commerce Of The Prairies.  His insight and description of the geography, people, culture, flora and fauna of New Mexico became popular at a time when war with Mexico was on the horizon.  Not surprisingly, in 1846 he was invited to join the U.S. Army invading Mexico via the Winter Garden area.
    

Built in 1822, Fort Jesup State Historical Site is located outside of Many, Louisiana on Highway 6, an original route of El Camino Real de los Tejas National Historic Trail.  One of the original officer’s buildings was recently the setting for the display of a photographic exhibit about the trail by Christopher Talbot, professor of Photography at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches.
    

It began as a trace through the woods.  Native Americans traveling from one settlement to another doubtless brought items to exchange with each other.
     As Anglo, French and Hispanic pioneers expanded the trail to a road, they created their own forms of commerce - legal and illegal - connecting the East Texas frontier to the interior of Mexico.

Boy Scout Troop 265 from Flower Mound, Texas performed the first-ever Scout service project on the trail for the association at Mission Tejas State Park on March 19, 2011.  Executive Director, Steven Gonzales, was contacted by scout troop representative, Steven Allshouse, about the desire of the troop to help with a volunteer project on the trail.  After discussing logistics of the potential project, Gonzales contacted Mission Tejas park manager, Gary Coker, about the idea.  Gary was welcoming and willing to help from the onset.
    

Please see the attached document about the "Sale on the Trail" going on in East Texas and Louisiana on May 6th and 7th, 2011.

Please see the following list of events taking place in Toledo Bend Lake Country.

Event: A Photographic Journey along the El Camino de los Tejas
Where: Fort Jesup State Park
Dates and Time: until March 23th, 2011, Wednesdays to Sunday, 9:00a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Phone #: 318-256-4117

Event: Feeding the Birds and Squirrels
Where: South Toledo Bend State Park
Dates and Time: Mar 4, 11, 18, 25 at 9:30 a.m.
Phone: 888-398-4770

Event: Nature Walk
Where: South Toledo Bend State Park
Dates and Time: Mar 4, 11, 18, 25 at 10:00 a.m.
Phone: 888-398-4770

Event: Volunteer Days
Where: Hodges Gardens State Park
Dates and Time: Mar 4-5 at 9:00 a.m.
phone: 800-354-3523

Event: Purple Martins
Where: Hodges Gardens State Park
Dates and time: Mar 5, 13 at 1:00 p.m.
phone: 800-354-3523

Event: The American Plague
Where: Fort Jesup State Historic Site
Dates and Time: Mar 5, at 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
phone: 888-677-5378

Event: Rotary Club Mud Ride
Where: Cow Bayou Wilderness
Date and Time: Mar 5, at 7:30 a.m.
phone: 318-332-5229

Event: Bald Eagle Hike
Where: South Toledo Bend State Park
Date and Time: Mar 5, 12, 19, 26 at 8:00 a.m.
phone: 888-398-4770

Event: Camellia Walk
Where: Hodges Gardens State Park
Date and Time: Mar 5, 6, 12, 26 at 9:30a.m
phone: 800-354-3523

Event: Experience Hearth Cooking
where: Ft Jesup State Park
Date and Time: Mar 10, at 11:00 a.m. to 1:00p.m.
phone: 888-677-5378

Event: Anacoco Lions Club Tournament
Where: Cypress Bend Park
Date and Time: Mar 12
Phone: 337-238-9329

Event: King of Henderson Tournament
Where: San Miguel Park
Date and Time: Mar 12
Phone: 337-233-6341

Event: Edible Flowers
Where: Hodges Gardens State Park
Date and Time: Mar 12 and 20, at 9:30 a.m.
PHone: 800-354-3523

Event: Tournament; Texas Oilmans Bass Invitational
Where: Cypress Bend Park
Date and Time: Mar 18, 19
Phone: 318-256-4118

Event: Full Moon Tour
Where: Hodges Gardens State Park
Date and Time: Mar 19, at 10:00p.m.
Phone: 800-354-3523

Event: Settlers Day
Where: Fort Jesup Stae Park
Date and Time: Mar 19, at 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
Phone: 888-677-5378

Event: Tournament: ALBC District 3 Qualifying
Where: San Miguel Park
Date and Time: Mar 19
Phone: 318-613-6886

Event: K & M Series Tournament
Where: SAn Miguel Park
Date and Time: Mar 20
Phone: 318-729-4428

Event: Ark-La Music Show
Where: Sabine Theater
Date and Time: Mar 25, at 7:30 p.m
Phone: 318-256-5735

Event: Tournament: Top 6
Where: San Miguel Park
Date and Tme: Mar 25-26
PHone: 318-645-6748

Event: Spring fling
Where: Hodges Gardens State Park
Date and Time: Mar 26, at 10:00a.m. to 4:00p.m.
Phone: 318-586-4020

Event: Tournament: Bass n Bucks
Where: Cypress Bend Park
Date and Time: Mar 26
Phone: 409-727-8941

Event: Native Azalea Hike
Where: Hodges Gardens State park
Date and Time: Mar 26-31 at 11:00 a.m.
Phone: 800-354-3523

Event: V & M Cyclone Bass Tournament
Where: Cypress Bend Park
Date and Time: Mar 27
Phone: 936-275-7409