Local history — San Benito Public Library Director Augustin Carrera stands in front of a display curated by the University of Texas-RGV that features the history of Fort Brown, located in Brownsville, where the UTRGV Campus is located. (Courtesy photo/SBPL)
By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the NEWS
The San Benito Public Library is closing the year with a significant cultural milestone: the opening of UTRGV’s traveling museum exhibit, “Discovering Fort Brown.”
The exhibit, developed by the UTRGV Community Historical Archaeology Project with Schools (CHAPS) Program, showcases the complete historical timeline of Fort Brown through bilingual displays, audio podcasts, a mobile interactive web app, and a trail guide.
Created by UTRGV anthropology and history students as part of an upper-level public heritage course, Discovering Fort Brown has drawn more than 120,000 visitors since its 2018 debut and has traveled across the Rio Grande Valley.
It will be on display at the San Benito Public Library from Dec. 1 through Jan. 30, 2026.
CHAPS faculty envisioned the project in 2017 as a way to deepen public understanding of the region’s layered past.
By offering bilingual materials, the exhibit intentionally reflects cross-border history and welcomes participation from communities on both sides of the river.
For SBPL Director Augustin Carrera, hosting the exhibit aligns with the library’s mission to make history, education, and culture accessible to all residents.
His leadership in advancing literacy, digital opportunity, and community partnerships is a key reason he was selected as The San Benito News 2025 Person of the Year as featured in the NEWS last month.
“Being named Person of the Year is both a tremendous honor and a humbling experience,” Carrera said. “It reminds me how powerful community partnerships, volunteerism, and small acts of service can be.”
Carrera’s professional path spans academic libraries, 12 years in public library service, and 15 years as a middle school educator, experiences that shaped his vision for the San Benito Public Library as a welcoming community hub.
Under his direction, the library has expanded access to technology, strengthened early literacy programs, increased workforce-skills classes, and built partnerships with schools, nonprofits, and city departments.
He credits his staff and community collaborators for the library’s growing impact. “This recognition is not just about me but also my hardworking staff,” he added.
As the library showcases one of the region’s most significant traveling exhibits, Carrera says the focus remains on serving all ages, building connections, and preserving culture.
“My vision is for the library to stay inclusive, innovative, and responsive to community needs,” he said.
The arrival of the Discovering Fort Brown exhibit marks both a celebration of regional heritage and a testament to Carrera’s commitment to lifelong learning, making this moment a fitting tribute to San Benito’s 2025 Person of the Year.
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