The Rio Grande makes a large bend into Mexico and forms the "boot heel" of Texas that is the Big Bend. Big Bend National Park nestles inside this meander, and its history is as much a part of Mexico as it is of Texas. The remote border location is historically replete with rich cultural diversity, including nomadic bands of Native Americans, Spanish explorers, Mexican and Anglo farmers, ranchers, miners, military men, and entrepreneurs. In the 1930s, a handful of people saw the Big Bend's majestic ruggedness as a place where all Americans could touch the Creator in nature and appreciate the alien qualities that both test and console the human spirit. This remote frontier still draws the souls of those seeking wide-open vistas and crystal-clear night skies.
Thomas C. Alex has lived and worked in the area for almost 30 years during which he has collected stories of the Big Bend. Images found in this volume were provided by families who settled the area, the National Park Service, and visitors who found the enchantment of the Big Bend irresistible. The Archives of the Big Bend at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas, also holds an immense treasure trove of images and documents detailing the rich human history of this area.