History of Hidalgo County

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History of Hidalgo County
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The Casa De Palmas opened in 1918, and served as
a social center for the Rio Grande
Valley, which experienced an economic boom.
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HISTORY OF THE CASA DE PALMAS

• The town of McAllen began developing after the
  arrival of the railroad in 1905. Introduction of
  an irrigation system made vegetable farming
  possible, soon there was a hotel, a grocery
  store, a Presbyterian church, a bank, and a
  weekly newspaper. In 1916 after bandits caused
  border trouble 12,000 soldiers were sent here to
  restore law and order. Business boomed with the
  increased population. Among the new facilities
  was the Casa De Palmas Hotel, opened in 1918.
  This fine hotel served as a business, social, and
  civic center for the Rio Grande Valley.

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The year was 1918...
Mexico was torn in a Civil War, while the rest of
the world had become a part of World War 1.
McAllen had a meager population of under 5,000,
which had grown since its establishment 7 years
prior, from a lawless frontier into a growing
community. Frequent raids by the border bandits
brought in over 12,000 soldiers who were sent to
restore law and order to our area.
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Their presence, combined with the fact that, in
1905, the railroad had arrived, and new
technology allowed the irrigation necessary for
vegetable farming, translated to the reality that
McAllen was a city on its way to becoming a major
hub of commerce and high society. The new city's
leaders understood the need for a business and
social center, a place in which the privileged
elite and politically powerful could rub elbows,
dine, drink, and relax within an environment of
luxury and opulence, a center that would testify
to the importance of McAllen.
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Thus, a 300 x 300 parcel of land that had
previously been a city zoo, was sold to the Rio
Grande Valley Hotel Corporation for a mere
41,250. And ground was broken on the Casa De
Palmas.
Originally, the Spanish style hotel was a
three-story white structure with a red tile roof,
trimmed with wrought iron and tile, all built
around a center courtyard. It was reminiscent of
a Spanish mission with arced doorways and two
towers on its front wall.
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In 1979, the site of Casa De Palmas was recorded
as a Texas historical landmark. It is recognized
as a South Texas treasure, known for its
beautiful architecture and lush landscaping. In
1999, Marriott Renaissance hotel initiated a
painstaking 8 million renovation of the historic
structure. The National Trust Historic Hotels of
America, the nations leader in the historic
preservation movement, inducted the 82-year-old
hotel, after careful consideration and approval
by its board.
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Historical Architectural Design
There is a classic, Spanish architectural design,
with a Latin terrace and arched windows.
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Missionary like arches and a garden courtyard add
to the appeal.
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Photo Gallery
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Photo Gallery
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