Big Bend National Park in Brewster County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)

Reminders of the Past

Big Bend National Park

Photographed By James Hulse, March 14, 2023

1. Reminders of the Past Marker

Inscription. The confluence of a creek, a river, and the hot springs drew people to this area thousands of years before Langford arrived. Living in the shadow of the cliffs, ancient people left rock art, midden areas, and bedrock mortars. These serve as reminders of the vibrant prehistoric communities that existed along the river.

The limestone cliffs provided shelter and a canvas for petroglyphs and pictographs. As you walk along the cliff edge, look carefully for these fragile images. Their meaning may never be known, except to those who came before.

Pictographs
are images painted onto rock surfaces.

Petroglyphs
are images chipped into a rock face.

What will your grandchildren see here?
Historical memoirs recount many color pictographs at this site that are now missing and lost forever. The precious few that remain could last for ages, or be gone tomorrow. Please do not touch rock art. The responsibility of protecting our national heritage rests with all of us. Respect this and all archeological sites you encounter.

Erected by National Park Service - U.S. Department of the Interior.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Arts, Letters, Music • Native Americans

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• Parks & Recreational Areas.

Location. 29° 10.68′ N, 102° 59.879′ W. Marker is in Big Bend National Park, Texas, in Brewster County. Marker is on Hot Springs Road, 1.6 miles south of Rio Grande Road, on the left when traveling south. The marker is located east of the parking lot along the Hot Springs Trail and Rio Grande River. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Big Bend National Park TX 79834, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 3 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Rock Art at Hot Springs (a few steps from this marker); If You Build It... (within shouting distance of this marker); Community (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Hot Springs Historic District (about 300 feet away); Healing Waters (approx. 0.2 miles away); Cool Mountains (approx. 2.2 miles away); River and Springs (approx. 2.2 miles away); Chihuahuan Desert (approx. 2.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Big Bend National Park.

More about this marker. The marker is located on the grounds of the Big Bend National Park which requires an entrance fee to access.

Also see . . . Hot Springs Historic District. Big Bend National Park

The Hot Springs Historic District
Photographed By James Hulse, March 14, 2023

2. The Reminders of the Past Marker in front of the cliff wall with the rock art
preserves a rich history of human occupation from thousands of years ago to the not-so-distant past. Visitors can study rock art left behind on the limestone cliffs, picture farms of corn, squash, and beans along the river's floodplain, or imagine what it would have been like to meet at the Hot Springs Post Office in the early 1900s to collect your mail each Monday.

(Submitted on March 25, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.)

Closeup of the rock art image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, March 14, 2023

3. Closeup of the rock art

Closeup of more art work image. Click for full size.

Photographed By James Hulse, March 14, 2023

4. Closeup of more art work

Credits. This page was last revised on March 25, 2023. It was originally submitted on March 25, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 79 times since then and 15 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 25, 2023, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.