The Museum of South Texas History hosts Logan Dovalina to present “The Discovery of Shary Heights: A Mid-Century Journey,” a Sunday Speaker Series presentation at 2 p.m., October 20.
This presentation will focus on Shary Heights, an undiscovered post-war neighborhood in Mission, Texas. Shary Heights is an example of mid-century dynamics, showcasing landscape architecture, community development and the importance of flora in modernist living. In its early days, it served as a canvas for five Valley architects and welcomed dignitaries, including former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Today, it is nominated for the National Register of Historic Places and is the subject of an upcoming book, “Una Vida Moderna: Self-Discovery and Architecture in the Texas-Mexico Borderlands.”
Dovalina, a historic preservationist from the Rio Grande Valley, has a deep connection to mid-century architecture. Originally from Mission, he grew up in Shary Heights, a post-war neighborhood that has become the focus of his research since 2020. This research is also the foundation for his upcoming co-authorship of “Una Vida Moderna: Self Discovery and Architecture in the Texas-Mexico Borderlands” with Stephen Fox and Nydia Tapia-Gonzales. He served as a Preservation Scholar with the Texas Historical Commission. He holds master's and bachelor's degrees in interdisciplinary studies from the University of North Texas.
Sunday Speaker Series is included in the fee for regular museum admission. FRIENDS of MOSTHistory are admitted free as a benefit of FRIENDship and must present their FRIENDship card at the Admissions Desk.
This program is made possible with generous support from the Carmen C. Guerra Endowment. Mrs. Guerra was deeply committed to supporting educational opportunities in the Rio Grande Valley. This named endowment was created at the museum by her family to honor her memory and to continue her commitment to providing opportunities for education to the community.
The Museum of South Texas History is located downtown Edinburg at 200 North Closner Boulevard on the Hidalgo County Courthouse square. Founded in 1967 as the Hidalgo County Historical Museum in the 1910 Hidalgo County Jail, the museum has grown over the decades through a series of expansions to occupy a full city block. In 2003, following the completion of a 22,500 square foot expansion, the museum was renamed the Museum of South Texas History to better reflect its regional scope. Today, the museum preserves and presents the borderland heritage of South Texas and Northeastern Mexico through its permanent collection and the Margaret H. McAllen Memorial Archives and exhibits spanning prehistory through the 20th century. For more information about MOSTHistory, including becoming a FRIEND, visit MOSTHistory.org, like on Facebook and Instagram, follow on Twitter, find on YouTube or call (956) 383-6911.
