Discovering US: Terlingua, TX

In January, we rode down Hwy 118 towards Big Bend. We came to the town of Terlingua, TX. Terlingua is located between Big Bend National Park and Big Bend State Park. It began as a mining town. They mined Cinnabar. The Native Americans found Cinnabar and used it for body pigment. Cinnabar is a red mercury sulfide. Mercury is extracted from Cinnabar. It is also known as quicksilver. Around 1880, several mining companies occupied the area and around 2000 people lived in Terlingua. The mining companies went bankrupt and the people abandoned the town thus a "Historic Ghost Town" was born.

Now the town is home to many artists, musicians, authors, and poets. The people we met were fascinating. They didn't mind sharing with us what brought them to Terlingua and were very friendly. We enjoyed talking with them and only wish we could have spent more time hanging out on "the porch".

Today, life in Terlingua is all about the simple pleasures where less is more. The town looks like it is one that time has forgotten. Many of the people live without water and electric and do not want progress to change the atmosphere of their town. However, we did see that progress has snuck in by the way of small stores, restaurants, and adventure companies. This is a town where Jeff and I can see ourselves living and ministering to the people. Something about this town makes us not want to leave.

Before leaving Terlingua, we walked around the dilapidated remains which were once home to the miners. As we walked the ground where many hard working people once lived, we examined their homes built of stones that were just stacked one on top of the other. The inside of some homes had mortar mixed with shards of sea shells, pottery, and stones. Each home was unique as to reflex the personally of the people who built them many years ago. Some homes were in better shape than others but all the homes brought thoughts of the people that once lived and worked in this small but beautiful area. We enjoyed walking through this "Historic Ghost Town". We found it intriguing and its people, homes, and area will forever be a discovery that we will treasure.