Page 16 Rio Grande Valley Visitors Guide 2023-2024 McAllen Convention Center Located near the intersection of Expressway 83 and Ware Rd., the McAllen Convention Center hosts many events during the year including symphony presentations, sporting events, trade shows, and special events. Opened in 2007, the center offers 174,000 square feet of state-of-the-art meeting space. Call (956) 681-3800 for information or go online to www.experiencemcallen.com. McAllen Performing Arts Center Since opening day, the $44.9 million, 1,828seat, 93,000-square-foot McAllen Performing Arts Center has been an incredible venue to host the Jersey Boys, Annie, Elf, America, Mamma Mia, Moscow Ballet Nutcracker, Valley Symphony Orchestra, and many other exciting shows, bringing the best of the arts to the city of McAllen. The venue offers unobstructed views and perfect sound with a magical house experience and stage presentation. Commercial development exploded in what is now referred to as the Convention Center District, with five signature hotels, major restaurants chains, dozens of retail shops that entice the entire family, and a park featuring a pond that often sees paddle boats and outdoor community events taking place. For information about upcoming shows, go to www.experiencemcallen.com or call the box office at (956) 681-3800. The McAllen PAC is located at 801 Convention Center Blvd. Veterans War Memorial of Texas The Veterans War Memorial of Texas honors the 1.4 million American military men and women killed in all the wars and conflicts of the U.S.A. This beautiful grass covered and landscaped five-acre Rio Grande Valley endeavor is located at the east side of the McAllen Convention Center, 29th St. and Col. Plummer Dr. The “American Spire of Honor” is a black granite five-sided 105’ majestic spire with a silver dome. It rises from the center of the circular configured memorial site. Vertical and circular landscaped pathways with multiple-colored pavers are found throughout the Memorial. In the outer pathway there are 113 flagpoles each with a fluttering U.S. flag, they encircle the Memorial. The flagpoles stand as symbolic guardians of the American honored heroes and as sentinels far into the distant future. There are many pathways in the interior. All are lined with historical stories engraved on granite walls and plaques. Visitors may obtain a 4” X 8” colored paver with their family or veterans names for $25.00. One of the many histories found in the Memorial, “The Plaza of Liberty”, depicts the beginning of the struggle of the American people to be free. The Daughters of the American Revolution and its 180,000 members brings life to that era with 12 walls of history stories, 6 bronze plaques of war scenes, bronze statues of George and Martha Washington and Patrick Henry with his pre-war speech… “Give me Liberty or Give me Death!!” with all supported by their historical stories. This is a beautiful site and a photographic treasure. A visit to the Memorial is truly an outing for families, school children, public and foreign visitors. All stories are written for easy understanding. When taken together the stories and supporting material allow a better understanding of the struggles and sacrifices of the Nation’s people to capture the dream of freedom and independence. This also allows the people of this era to pass a permanent and unchanging history of the Nation’s Forefathers. The history
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