| Visit Camp Mabry and the Tree Walk | |
with your Guide, Jacci Howard Bear
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Just inside the front gates to Camp Mabry you'll find a small, pleasant little park area with a ring of majestic old trees named in honor of many heroes of the Republic of Texas. It's worth an afternoon stroll to see the twisted old trees, catch a glimpse of playful squirrels and wild birds, such as the red-headed woodpecker, and read the bits of history found at each tree. While this isn't the most impressive aspect of the grounds, it is of interest to casual history buffs and nature lovers. Each old tree in the ring has a plaque with a brief bit of history about the person for which that tree is named. Some familiar names include Stephen F. Austin and Susanna Dickinson, a survivor of the Alamo. Less familiar names include José María (Gregorio) Esparza, the only Alamo defender whose body was not burned. Santa Anna honored the request of Esparza's brother Francisco to retrieve his body from the fallen Alamo and give him a proper burial. Three historical markers, a small pavilion, and a totem pole round out the sights in this small park setting. Included in Jim Tankard's "Texas Roadside Icons" collection, the totem pole was presented to the camp in 1949 by the Royal Canadian Air Force in honor of the Texans who joined the RFAC to fight in World War II. I found no plaque at the site describing the significance of the totem pole but according to an online article at Insiders.com: The totem pole represents the Thunderbird family and the figures, from top to bottom, are the son, who makes thunder and wind; the daughter, keeper of hail storms; the mother, maker of lightning, thunder and rain; and Chief Thunderbird, who attempts to subdue a dragon and make huge storms at the same time. The dragon is at the bottom of the totem pole. Sadly, some of the biographies along the tree walk have succumbed to neglect and weather making them hard to decipher. In the middle of the tree path, near the historical markers you'll see some strange posts sticking up from concrete pads with no explanation. They are the stands from a display of some type that was moved elsewhere quite some time ago. However, these small signs of neglect shouldn't deter you from making a quick stop at this little park. To the left of the entrance you'll find more memorials and the flags that fly at the front of Camp Mabry. Also on the grounds and of probably greater interest to visitors is the Texas Military Forces Museum (closed Mondays and Tuesdays) and the jogging track with its exercise stations and the aircraft exhibits along the track. |
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Take I-35 to 38 ½ street WEST which changes to 35th Street; Camp Mabry is just past Loop 1 (MOPAC). The ring of trees and totem pole are on your right as you enter the 35th Street entrance. Take a right at the stop sign and park in the small area on your right facing the pavilion. The grounds are open from 6AM to 10PM. You can walk around beyond this area but it's probably best to drive to the museum and jogging track area parking lots. Also, take note of signs that indicate certain areas are private residences and not for visitors to wander through on foot or by car. While in the area, also visit:
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| More Fact and Photo Tours | |
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Mystery Tours |
Jacci's Photo Journal |
| Austin Photo Gallery | |
Photographs Copyright 2000 Jacci Howard Bear
