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Kingsville, Texas Travel Guide
The legacy of King Ranch, once the largest ranch in the world, is
apparent through the city of Kingsville, located just a few miles
from the cattle ranch. An array of downtown antiques shops and boutiques
lie on Kleberg Avenue and King Street, named for the families who
founded the famous ranch.
Kingsville Attractions:
King Ranch. Sprawling across
825,000 acres, the King Ranch traces its history to 1853 when it
was founded by Captain Richard King, a self-made man who made his
fortune on Rio Grande Riverboats and who later became a Texas Ranger.
Visitors can enjoy a guided tour of the working ranch in air-conditioned
buses. Still one of the largest in the world, the ranch developed
the Santa Gertrudis and King Ranch Santa Cruz breeds of cattle as
well as the first registered American quarter horse. Today it's
home to 60,000 head of cattle and 300 quarter horses and welcomes
visitors from around the world for a look at the ranch as well as
the many bird species who call this land home.
King Ranch Museum. The King Ranch
Museum provides visitors with a look at the history of the ranch,
including a stunning photographic essay of life on King Ranch in
the 1940s. A collection of saddles, antique carriages, and antique
cards rounds out the exhibits.
King Ranch Saddle Shop. This
shop carries on the tradition of saddle-making that began after
the Civil War when Captain King started his own saddle shop. Today
the King Ranch Saddle Shop produces fine purses, belts, and, of
course, saddles in downtown Kingsville's John B. Ragland Mercantile
Company Building. Located at 201 E. Kleberg.
John E. Conner Museum. Located
on the grounds of Texas A&M University-Kingsville, this museum
highlights the natural and social history of South Texas, local
ecosystems, and the area's fossils and minerals. The museum boasts
a permanent exhibit on prehistoric South Texas as well as many heritage
displays. Kids can get the real feel for the region in the Touch
and Feel area, complete with everything from pelts to minerals and
fossils. Located at 821 W. Santa Gertrudis Ave.
Railroad Depot Museum. Located
in the Historic District. This museum, Kingsville's newest, showcases
the rail history of the region. It was that rail industry that made
Kingsville grow, shipping out the cattle to spread the fame of the
King Ranch—and the Coastal Bend—across the country.
Special Events in Kingsville
Fall
& winter
In Depth Travel Articles About Kingsville:
King
Ranch
Downtown
Kingsville
King
Ranch: A Texas-Sized Ranch for Groups
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