The Roar of Spinning Turbines is all that
is missing from this stunning restoration, but you won’t be disappointed. It’s been A 100 year transformation in the
making for this First Rate Valley amusement, a site to behold.

Located just off the River, in what was once the heart
of Old Hidalgo, Texas this century old steam pump house
played a big part in making the Rio Grande Valley “Magic”
by elevating irrigation water from the Rio Grande River to
canal height. From there, with gravity alone, the water could be transported to feed the expanding citrus, cotton and market crops at the turn of the century. This development along with the railroad at the time, provided one of the greatest influxes of people the Valley had ever experienced.

WHAT TO SEE & DO

Now you can visit this restored pump house in Hidalgo,
which looks much as it did in 1905. You will find an amazingly clean, well restored facility that offers a surprising number of exhibits including steam turbines, tractors, water treatment vats, an outdoor amphitheater and a fascinating miniature train display. It also is host to a birding center and a nature trail and botanical garden.

MODEL RAILROAD EXHIBIT

A real treat for kids of any age, the model railroad (circa
1960) is a scaled, on going work in progress. It is fashioned with a northeastern style common in Appalachia that includes a small town, a village, an industrial facility, a pump house lift station (resembling the one in Mission, Texas), a round house, rail yard and several passenger stations. The impressive layout can handle up to eight running trains at once. The designer, Arthur Nemes (pictured below) will invite guests for a close up if he is around, working on the project.


GETTING THERE

It is located on the original site of the center of Hidalgo and
is easy to find. Heading south on 23rd Street from McAllen,
make a left before entering bridge traffic at the Burger King.

Then, make a right on 2nd. Street in town and it’s just a few blocks straight ahead. It is open Monday through Friday from 10 AM to 5 PM and on Sunday 1PM to 5 PM. In addition to tours, events can be scheduled at the Old Pump House.

by Ralph Magaña