Community > Cultural Heritage > The Museums of San Benito

The Museums of San Benito

The Museums of San Benito are located in the San Benito Community Building, 210 E. Heywood (Corner of North Reagan & East Heywood), and are open Thursday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., or by special group arrangements by calling (956)399-9991, (956)399-6032, (956)245-1666 or (956)276-9588. Admission is $3.00 Adults and $1.50 Children Under 12. The Museums include the San Benito History Museum, the Freddy Fender Museum and the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame and Museum.

San Benito History Museum

Step back in time and see how San Benito came to be.

From the natural formation of the resaca (an old course of the Rio Grande River) where Indians and Spanish land grant ranches flourished to the arrival of the railroad and diverse ethnic pioneers hungry for cheap and fertile land, a small community grew and prospered.

San Benito grew into a social and commercial center in the tropical Magic Valley of Texas. Pioneers built schools and churches, formed clubs and held dances and even put on a "Hog Waddle."

Over 100 hundred years have past since San Benito’ founding and naming by Col. Sam Robertson and his business colleagues. Walk through our small tale in United States history and as the words of a popular song echo, "Reminisce about the days of yore..."
A project of the San Benito Historical Society.

Freddy Fender Museum

Texas Folklife Resources calls "Freddy Fender an icon and the most significant Mexican-American singer, writer and musician in musical history."

The Freddy Fender Museum gives those who love Freddy Fender’s music a rare glimpse at his roots and what made him such a significant entertainer to so many. Freddy Fender’s music career was ignited in the late 1950s when he recorded Spanish-language versions of Don’t Be Cruel and Jamiaca Fairwell, which were chart-topping hits in Mexico and South America. He first recorded and had regional success with Wasted Days and Wasted Nights in the 1960s, but in the 1970s the song, along with his signature, Before the Next Teardrop Falls, propelled Freddy to International stardom. In 1975, he won the Academy of Country Music’s Best New Artist award. This was the first of many major awards that Freddy would receive throughout his life.

In more recent years, he co-founded the Texas Tornados with Flaco Jimenez, Augie Meyers and Doug Sahm, toured as a solo artist, and as part of Tejano super group, Los Super Seven. A multi-Grammy Award winner, Mr. Fender performed for US presidents, governors and sold-out audiences worldwide. With music awards in 4 decades, numerous movie and TV credits, he continued to perform to sell out audiences from Vegas to Amsterdam until 2005.

Freddy was honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999 for his contribution to music.

Now you can enjoy Freddy’s story in his own words of his humble beginnings to the height of fame as an international recording star.

See his Grammy awards, his Harley Davidson and costumes worn in various performances. The legend, and the spirit, of Freddy lives on in San Benito, Texas.

Texas Conjunto Music
Hall of Fame & Museum

The Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum is a part of the Museums of San Benito, the birthplace of conjunto music.

They strive to promote, preserve, archive, document, and to permanently display the history of Conjunto regional music and to honor those who created it. Detailed information on the instruments used in conjunto music, its cultural origins, and stories of San Benito’s legendary music institutions – "La Villita" dance hall and the Ideal Records are among featured exhibits.

In annual ceremonies, capped with a grand dance, worthy conjunto personnel are inducted into the Hall of Fame, which today features 33 notable individuals. They are highlighted in the biographies and memorabilia featured in the museum.

Conjunto music pioneer Narciso Martinez is credited with solidifying the combination of the German and Polish accordion polkas, schotishes and redowas with the Spanish bajo sexto (12-string guitar) and musica ranchera (ranch music).

Called the "working man’s" music, conjunto legends’ memories, and their spirit ,are kept alive in the Resaca City at the Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum.

More Information

The Visitor Information Center at the Museums of San Benito is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Approved informational brochures and publications are welcome for placement by merchants and organizations.

Volunteer workers are welcome to assist in the operations of this Center. To volunteer your time and talent, please call the Visitor Information Center at (956)361-3830, or the Museums:

San Benito Historical Society
at 956-399-9991 or 956-399-6032 or online at www.sanbenitohistory.org
Texas Conjunto Music Hall of Fame & Museum
at 956-245-1666 or 956-276-9588
Freddy Fender Museum
at 956-399-7818or online at www.freddyfendermuseum.org