Sharing Family Stories Through Historic Furniture

pump organ used to play hymns of worship in their ranch church, which still stands today.

Among the furniture collections is the intricately carved desk used during the business dealings of the Bentsen brothers, Lloyd and Elmer, and, later, Thomas Cross. It was donated by his daughter, Jane Cross.

These pieces are preserved at the Museum to shape the stories of people who built the Rio Grande Valley to be what it is today.

The Furniture that Built the Valley exhibit is included in the regular Museum admission fees. Museum hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday from 1 to 5 p.m. For more information about the exhibit, please contact Melissa Peña, collections and exhibits coordinator, at 956-3836911 or by email at mjpena@ mosthistory.org.

The Museum of South Texas History is located in downtown Edinburg at 200 N, Closner Blvd. on the Hidalgo County Courthouse square. For more information about MOSTHistory, including becoming a F RIEND, visit MOSTHistory.org, like us on Facebook and Instagram, follow us on Twitter, find us on YouTube, or call 956-383-6911. •

T he Museum of South Texas History presents the spotlight exhibit Furniture that Built the Valley , now open for visitors. The museum has a variety of beautiful furniture in its collections, each with an interesting story to tell. Furniture that Built the Valley will share the story of three South Texas families through a piece of furniture donated from each family.

A spindled, four-poster bed from the Vela family will be on display. This bed was passed down several generations from Salvador and Leonor Vela, who were parents of Macedonio Vela, the founder of Laguna Seca Ranch, just north of Edinburg.

The Jacksons, a mixed-race family who owned acres of land south of Pharr and San Juan, donated a