Photograph of an interior view of a staircase in the Brewster County Courthouse in Alpine, Texas. The photo was taken looking upward at the staircase.

Photograph of the Brewster County Courthouse in Alpine, Texas. It is a two-story red brick building, with white accents at the windows and door.

Photograph of the windows of the Brewster County Courthouse in Alpine, Texas. The building is made of red brick. The windows are white, and have shutters.

Photograph of a plaque outside the Brewster County Courthouse in Alpine, Texas. The building is made of red brick. The plaque says: "Brewster County Courthouse. Federal Emergency Administration of Public Works Project no. 9604 State Historical Survey Committee Texas courthouse building erected in 1887 when Brewster County was created. Served Buchel and Foley Counties until these areas were added to Brewster County. Courthouse Square still is community center for various events. Recorded Texas historic landmark - 1965."

Photograph of the Brewster County Courthouse, gazebo, and surrounding sidewalk and foliage in Alpine, Texas. It is a two-story red brick building with white accents at the windows and door. The gazebo matches the house, and is made of wood. There is a red street lamp on both sides of the sidewalk leading up to the front door.

THIS ENDURING MOUNMENT OF MARBLE WITH ATTACHED BRONZE PLAQUE IS A SYMBOL OF HONOR AND A TRIBUTE OF PRAISE FOR THE VALIANT SERVICE RENDERED BY THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM BREWSTER COUNTY WHO ANSWERED THE CALL OF DUTY IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE NATION. NOT ONLY FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR OWN SHORES BUT ALSO THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR ALLIES THREATENED WITH ANNIHILATION BY THE RUTHLESS AGRESSORS. OUR DEVOTION TO FREEDOM AND LOVE FOR HUMANITY LEFT NO OTHER COURSE SO THE GRAND OLD STAR SPANGLED BANNER WAS UNFURLED IN THREE WARS. WORLD WAR I. WORLD WAR II AND THE KOREAN WAR. FACED WITH THIS TREMENDOUS TASK OUR NATION FOUGHT THE MOST ALTRUISTIC WARS OF THE CENTURY. THOUSANDS OF OUR HEROES ARE DEAD - THEY DIED FOR LIBERTY - THEY DIED FOR US AND OTHER COUNTRIES - THEY ARE AT REST - MANY SLEEP IN THE LANDS THEY MADE FREE UNDER THE FLAG THEY RENDERED STAINLESS - UNDER THE SOLEMN PINES AND THE DROOPING WILLOWS - THEY SLEEP BENEATH THE SHADOWS OF THE CLOUDS EACH IN THE WINDOW - LESS PALACE OF REST. OUR SENTIMENT FOR SOLDIERS LIVING AND DEAD: CHEERS FOR THE LIVING; TEARS FOR THE DEAD.

THIS ENDURING MONUMENT OF MARBLE WITH ATTACHED BRONZE PLAQUE IS A SYMBOL OF HONOR AND A TRIBUTE OF PRAISE FOR THE VALIANT SERVICE RENDERED BY THE MEN AND WOMEN FROM BREWSTER COUNTY WHO ANSWERED THE CALL OF DUTY IN THE ARMED FORCES OF THE NATION. NOT ONLY FOR THE PROTECTION OF OUR OWN SHORES BUT ALSO THE SOVEREIGNTY OF OUR ALLIES THREATENED WITH ANNIHILATION BY THE RUTHLESS AGRESSORS. OUR DEVOTION TO FREEDOM AND LOVE FOR HUMANITY LEFT NO OTHER COURSE SO THE GRAND OLD STAR SPANGLED BANNER WAS UNFURLED IN THREE WARS. WORLD WAR I. WORLD WAR II AND THE KOREAN WAR. FACED WITH THIS TREMENDOUS TASK OUR NATION FOUGHT THE MOST ALTRUISTIC WARS OF THE CENTURY. THOUSANDS OF OUR HEROES ARE DEAD - THEY DIED FOR LIBERTY - THEY DIED FOR US AND OTHER COUNTRIES - THEY ARE AT REST - MANY SLEEP IN THE LANDS THEY MADE FREE UNDER THE FLAG THEY RENDERED STAINLESS - UNDER THE SOLEMN PINES AND THE DROOPING WILLOWS - THEY SLEEP BENEATH THE SHADOWS OF THE CLOUDS EACH IN THE WINDOW - LESS PALACE OF REST. OUR SENTIMENT FOR SOLDIERS LIVING AND DEAD: CHEERS FOR THE LIVING; TEARS FOR THE DEAD.

West Texas deluge, a rainstorm in Alpine.

West Texas deluge, a big rainstorm in Alpine.

Photograph of a building at Sul Ross State University, current home of Museum of the Big Bend. The building is made of red brick. There are flowering trees in the yard along the sidewalk. Four columns support the overhang leading up to the front entrance.

Photograph of Cactaceae, Schott's Dog Cholla, Opuntia schottii. Some of the spines on the cacti are red. Brown leaves cover the ground. This photo was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Photograph of Cactaceae, Schott's Dog Cholla, Opuntia schottii. Many brown leaves have fallen between the cactus plants. This photo was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Photograph of Cactaceae, Blind Prickly Pear, Opuntia rufida. There are small red rocks under the plant, and a plaque mounted on a stone to the right side of the picture. The photo was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Close-up view of the plant Fouquieriaceae, Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens. A red brick building is visible out of focus in the background. This photo was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Photograph of the plant Fouquieriaceae, Ocotillo, Fouquieria splendens. It is surrounded by cacti, and there is a plaque on a rock that labels the plant. This photo was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Photograph of Cactaceae, Texas Rainbow Cactus, Echinocereus dasyacanthus. It is a tall plant entirely covered in spines. It sits in a bed of medium sized red and black rocks. This photo was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Photograph of Cactaceae, Lloyd's Hedgehog Cactus, Echinocereus xroetteri var. neomexicana. The cactus is surrounded by red rocks. This photo was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Photograph of Cactaceae, Texas Claretcup Cactus, Echinocereus coccineus var. gurneyi. The cactus sits in a bed of small red rocks. This picture was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Photograph of Cactaceae, False Strawberry Cactus, Echinocereus enneacanthus var. enneacanthus. There are three cacti plants in the photo, and there is a plaque in front of the plant middle one. It is surrounded by red rocks. This picture was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas.

Photograph of Cactaceae, Short-spined Strawberry Cactus, Echinocereus enneacanthus var. brevispinus. The plant is light green with many spines. It sits in a bed of small red rocks. This photo was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Photograph of Cactaceae, Short-spined Strawberry Cactus, Echinocereus enneacanthus var. brevispinus. It is a small, spiny green cactus, which sits in a bed of small red rocks. This picture was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Photograph of Cactaceae, Giant Fishhook Cactus, Ferocactus hamatacanthus var. hamatacanthus. Black and red rocks cover the ground. This picture was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Photograph of Cactaceae, Arizona Barrel Cactus, Ferocactus wislizeni. There are small red rocks under the cactus, and another plant can be seen in the background. This photograph was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.

Photograph of Cactaceae, Tree Cholla, Opuntia imbricata var. imbricata. It sits in a bed of small red rocks. There is a plaque in front of the plant. This photo was taken in the cactus garden at Sul Ross State University.