River Pierce Foundation

Programs: River pierce foundation works to preserve and make known the colonial character of the historic village of san ygnacio, texas, a significant element of the farms, ranches, cities and towns that make up the los caminos del rio heritage corridor of the lower rio grande valley, texas. Foundation programs and individual contributions from the private sector support the acquisition, preservation, and creative re-use of historic sites, with special emphasis on the early 19th century sandstone complex of the trevio-uribe rancho, sited on a bluff overlooking the rio grande. Designated a national historic landmark by the national park system, and as one of the nation's most endangered historic sites by the national trust for historic preservation, the fortified complex is one of the few surviving artifacts of spanish colonial architecture in south texas. The river pierce foundation provides site access to the structures in its care to students of architecture, historians, and an interested public, sponsoring educational programs that have included visiting educators, symposia, workshops, and artist residencies in local schools. The foundation's founder, michael tracy, restored the important sandstone structures of the historic zaragosa-dominguez residence in 1984. Expressing concern for the historic character of the san ygnacio plaza, the foundation has undertaken the stabilization and restoration of san ygancio national register district, including the trevio-uribe rancho (1830), national historic landmark since 1998), the manuel snchez residence (1874), the guadalupe martinez residence (1874) as well as the adaptation of the former lozano general store nearby, as a possible site for a visitors' center. The foundation's restoration work is guided by a report it commissioned in 2003 to assess the condition of the trevio-uribe rancho and sanchez house, and provides an estimate for rehabilitation and selective restoration of these sites. Understanding that the area is a destination of choice to ornithologists, the river pierce foundation encourages the propagation of indigenous flora, with emphasis on the desert willow flor de mimbre, whose orchid-like flowers are attractive to hummingbirds. Aspects of this awareness are taught, along with other historical traditions of the region, in an annual heritage camp for local children, ages 9-16, that combines environmental awareness, archeology, anthropology, botany, and natural science. In 2017, the foundation became of aware for the need to provide local accommodations and hospitality for visiting birders, who come from all over the u. S. And abroad tracking the migration of the white-collared seed eater and the muscovy duck. Three buildings adjacent to the trevio-uribe rancho will be opened in 2018 as a bed and breakfast, producing jobs for the local work force, and serving as convenience for visitors who come to tour river pierce historic properties and that come to san ygancio to view the migrating birds. The publication, "the river pierce: sacrifice li, 13. 4. 90: a document of the collaborative action" (rice university press, 1990)documents an international collaboration of artists and a symposium sponsored by the foundation creatively exploring the bicultural history of the region. In 1998, the foundation's video "culture, water, money: the passion of the frontier," was produced for public television. The video explores the contamination of the rio grande and was designated best economic documentary by the new york international film video festival. In 2010, the river pierce foundation staged a christmas pageant in the the trevio-uribe rancho, celebrating and revisiting the hispanic tradition of the pastorela, a literary format dating back to medieval spain, which tells the story of a group of shepherds who encounter and triumph over the seven deadly sins on their way to greet the new born messiah of bethlehem. In 2011, the foundation launched a visitors' center which contains exhibits about the restoration of the trevio-uribe rancho, the pre-history and archeology of san ygnacio, and daily life from san ygnacio's founding in 1830 to mid-20th century. In 2012, the trevio-uribe rancho became the first certified site on the el camino real de los tejas national trail and also published a historic structure report (hsr) funded in part by the national park services challenge cost share program. Its purpose is to guide the restoration of the site as part of the save americas treasures program, a collaboration between the national park service and the national trust for historic preservation, to acknowledge, stabilize, and preserve national historic landmarks for future generations. The hsr will be added to the historic american building survey (habs) contained in the library of congress. The river pierce foundation welcomes the support of individual donors as well as regional and national organizations similarly devoted to cultural interpretation and historic preservation.