SMOKING ROOM: The Briscoe-Garner Museum, a research unit of the University of Texas, is located in the house that served as home to John Nance “Cactus Jack” Garner (above left), the first Texan to serve as speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and as vice president. The muse- um also honors Uvalde native son Dolph Briscoe, Jr., former governor of Texas.
SMALL TOWNS Uvalde T
Home of the New Deal vice president John Nance “Cactus Jack” Garner
HILL COUNTRY TRAIL REGION
THE END OF the Texas Hill Country or the beginning of Brush Country? The charming town of Uvalde, located between Del Rio and San Antonio, sits on that imaginary dividing line. The lush Honey Capital of the World is home to giant oak trees and over 300 species of wildflowers. It’s also where John Nance “Cactus Jack” Garner lived — the first Texan to serve as speaker of the House and vice presi- dent of the United States.
Garner settled in Uvalde as a young man and began his political career by successfully running for county judge. While serving in the Texas State House of Representatives, Garner earned his nickname “Cactus Jack” when he proposed the cactus as the state flower. The bluebonnet ultimately won out, but for Garner the nickname stuck.
18 AUTHENTIC TEXAS
Briscoe-Garner Museum 333 North Park Street Uvalde, TX 78801 (830) 278-5018 Open to the public with free admission.
Garner State Park 234 RR 1050
Concan, TX 78838
(U.S. Hwy 83 and FM 1050) (830) 232-6132 Reservations (512) 389-9000
tpwd.texas.gov /state-parks/garner
Visit Uvalde
visituvalde.com
Next, Garner was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives where he became speaker of the House and was catapulted onto the national scene. Cactus Jack served two terms as vice president under Franklin Roosevelt. Falling out with Roosevelt during their second term, Garner ended his 46-year career in public life in 1941 and returned to Uvalde. Although he’d retired, Democratic politicians visited and consulted with Garner throughout the remainder of his life. He passed away in 1967, just 15 days shy of his 99th birthday. To date, he retains the unique honor of being the longest-living vice presi- dent or president in U.S. history. For more than 30 years, the Garners lived, worked, raised a family, entertained dignitaries and hosted citizens from all walks of
life in their two-story brick home. In 1952, Garner donated the house to the City of Uvalde. Twenty-four years later, his home was named a
National Historic Landmark, and the Briscoe- Garner Museum officially opened in 1973, pre- serving and exhibiting photographs, documents, paintings and other artifacts that document Garner’s life and career.
is Garner State Park, where an annual visit is a family tradition for many Texans. Generations have sought relief from summer heat in the clear waters of the Frio River and then danced the night away under the summer stars at the park. The river is home to high limestone bluffs, huge cypress trees and all manner of wildlife — the perfect place to swim, tube, fish or canoe as it winds through scenic hill country. In a tradition dating back to the 1940s, folks gather at the park’s concession building on summer evenings for a jukebox dance.
About 30 miles up the road from Uvalde • LM8C;<
UT-AUSTIN’S BRISCOE CENTER FOR AMERICAN HISTORY
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