The City of Laredo is making attempts to entice tourists to re-discover the flavor of a city they say is full of shopping opportunities and historic sites to see.
But representatives of the Heritage Foundation say they're surviving by the skin of their teeth all because advertising and funding for the museums isn't where it should be.
Members of the Webb County Heritage Foundation say there may not be any flavor left to enjoy, if Laredo leaders don't move quickly.
“It gives people a chance to step back in time to the 19th century,” says Museum Director Rick Villarreal.
Stories of the past, only Laredo can tell.
It’s what city officials are hoping tourists will re-discover, but could our so-called flavorful city go bland.
Members of the Webb County Heritage Foundation say they're operating on the bare minimum, even though heritage tourism could draw the big bucks.
“If enough attention were paid enough money were applied it would serve as a big part of our tourism as well,” says Margarita Araiza of the Webb County Heritage Foundation.
The director this museum says he would usually see 400 to 500 people a month, but that was then. Now he says he's lucky if he sees one hundred.
“We’re happy to take whatever money we can get.”
The importance of local museums is well understood, according to city officials who say, while they don't have to keep non-profits a-float, they do all they can and chose to not cut funding to the foundation.
“These are not city departments so we can try to do our best to help them,” says Michael Landeck, Laredo city council member.
“No one else got the same amount of money as last year everyone was cut by at least ten percent.”
Still foundation members say with proper organization, money could be pouring in.
“To know that we were once our own country those are the thing that we can be capitalizing on.”
Representatives of the Webb County Heritage Foundation say more people, especially those who already live here will take a trip to the museums.
They’re even offering special ghost tours coming up in October to try and draw in more people.
For more information on those tours please call 727-0977.