One stop during our stay at Lake Casa Blanca State Park was the Laredo Water Museum. The museum is another of those free museums that are overlooked by most people. Instead of being eclectic like others, this one was dedicated to water conservation, and how water is collected from the Rio Grande and treated for use in the Laredo area.
The Laredo water museum was put together by the Laredo Utility Department and it’s actually attached to one of their main water works facilities.
Inside the museum, there are three main areas. The main entrance leads to a map of the Rio Grande River. It had interesting history along the river’s banks. The museum has a small amphitheater and dining area, probably most useful for school trips. Finally, the main exhibit area!
The exhibits mostly surrounded water conservation awareness. There were calculators for kids and families to estimate how much water they use in a year. And tons of tips on reducing water waste and pollution.
They even had some displays and information on how people living in areas without easy access to fresh water get it to their homes. There were interactive pump races and weighted jugs for visitors to try and lift.
Finding Engagement at the Laredo Water Museum
One activity that most of these little museums have is a scavenger hunt. Children are given a worksheet and pencil and are tasked with answering the questions to get a prize. Obviously, all of the questions can be answered by reading the information plaques throughout the museum, so if your littles are a bit squirrely, it’s a great way to boost their engagement.
Another section that Mom and I particularly enjoyed was a section dedicated to the ecology of the Rio Grande River valley. It was broken down into three sections: plants, land animals, and water animals. Each section was subdivided into the native species and how they are beneficial and/or threatened. And the invasive species and how they are harming the landscape. It was a small section, but info-dense and worth the time investment.
All said it was a very fun and educational day. I feel the kids got a lot out of it, too. Especially seeing all the processes water goes through to become safe and clean. It’s easier to be a good steward of a resource when you see how hard it is to make. If you’re in the Laredo area and looking for a quick educational side quest, give the Laredo Water Museum a try!