Ciudad Acuna travel guides

Ciudad Acuña, also known simply as Acuña, (originally Garza Galán, later Villa Acuña) is a city located in the Mexican state of Coahuila, at 29°19′9″N, 100°56′3″W and a mean height above sea level of 280 metres. It stands on the Rio Grande (locally known as the Río Bravo), which at this point marks the U.S.-Mexico border, and offers a border crossing with the neighbouring city of Del Rio in the U.S. state of Texas. It serves as the municipal seat of the surrounding Acuña municipality.

Brief history

The first recorded settlement of Acuña took place on December 27, 1877. It was actually founded by a group of colonists led by Domingo Urias, Irineo Casillas Arevalo, and his wife Mrs. Maximina Espinoza. At the time, the Governor of the State was general Hipólito Charles who posted a military in the area led by captain Manuel Leal. In 1880 the community received Villa status under its first name of Garza Galán. In 1884 the locality was renamed Congregación las Vacas. Congregacion Las Vacas was then renamed Villa Acuña in 1912 after Saltillan poet, Manuel Acuña. Villa Acuña was finally given the title of city on September 16, 1951. It got its present name of Ciudad Acuna. On October 24, 1960, US president Dwight D. Eisenhower and Mexican President Lopez Mateos met in Acuña to sign the initial agreements allowing construction of the dam. Construction plans were not finalized until December of 1966 when presidents Lyndon B. Johnson and Gustavo Diaz Ordaz met on the international bridge. Presidents Richard M. Nixon and Gustavo Diaz Ordaz met for the dedication of Amistad Dam on September 8, 1969. This was the Inauguration of the now known 'Port of Mexico'.

Professional soccer/basketball/pool player Alejandro Castro lives here. Alejandro Castro]] is worldwide recognized.

Radio

Ciudad Acuña first gained fame under the name of Villa Acuña in the 1930s when it became the home of XERA. This radio station was known as a 'border-blaster' because it broadcast with power far in excess of most stations licensed in the USA. It was managed by John R. Brinkley, a medical doctor from Kansas who became famous for his male sexual enhancement operations and treatments which he advertised by radio. XERA was closed by the government of Mexico in 1939 upon pressure from the United States.

When Villa Acuña became Ciudad Acuña it became famous once more as the location of an international broadcasting station. In 1947 the government of Mexico licensed XERF-AM, the super-power border-blaster run by Mexican investors on 100 kW. They used the old XERA facilities and made most of their money by selling its airtime after nightfall to American Evangelists broadcasting in English to the United States. In 1959, A group of Texas investors formed the Inter-American Radio Advertising, Inc. which was located in the law offices of attorney Arturo Gonzalez in Del Rio, Texas. They ran the broadcasting in Del Rio while the license rested in the hands of Mexican officials. They boosted the power to 250 kW, which was unheard of in the US. This massive radio station gave fame to disc jockey Wolfman Jack between 1962 and 1964. XERF-AM is currently under control of the Mexican Radio Institute and plays more Spanish-oriented programs and music. The best music you can listen to is at 100.7 La Mejor FM from 7pm thru 9 pm with Analu,the best locutora ever.

Music

Acuña is referenced in a song called 'Mexican Blackbird' on the ZZ Top album Fandango. The song tells the story of a few men from Texas crossing the border to visit a mulatto prostitute in Acuña.

'Blame It On Mexico' a song performed by George Strait, written by songwriter Darrell Staedtler, on the 'Strait Country' album tells about one night in Acuna/Del Rio and references Acuna and Ma Crosby's (a historic restaurant in Acuna) in the beginning.

'In a bar in Acuna called Ma Crosby's I found myself not feeling any pain I told a 'Frisco girl I'd come for freedom She said she'd only come to catch a train We struck up some idle conversation Traded all the troubles on our minds One thing lead to another in the evening And I fell in love again for my last time'

Cinema

Outdoor scenes for the 1992 cult motion picture El Mariachi were shot here, as well as the bar scenes & street confrontation from the sequel, Desperado.