Sights abound just a short drive from El Campo
By DAVID LOWE

The Danish Heritage Museum is about 11 miles south of El Campo in the small community of Danevang where many traditional customs are still observed. It, along with the Wharton County Historical Museum in Wharton, explores the history of Wharton County and its people.

Visitors to El Campo have a number of attractions available throughout Wharton County and surrounding areas. And a pair of Wharton County museums offer insights into the county's unique history and culture.

Danevang's Danish Heritage Museum is located in "The Danish Capital of Texas," about 11 miles south of El Campo off Hwy. 71.

An adventurous, seafaring people, medieval Danes - along with Vikings - established trade routes in the Baltic Sea and down into the Middle East, founded the modern-day city of St. Petersburg and controlled most of the British Isles.

Even today, Danevang preserves memories of the Danish Viking past. Danevang Lutheran Church, like those in Denmark, hangs a small ship from the sanctuary ceiling. This decoration both reminds church members of boat motifs in the Gospels and reflects Vikings' importance in shaping Danish culture, museum director Laird Engle says.

Another section of the museum explains the cotton processing system and includes displays of various aspects of rice, soybean and corn cultivation.

The museum is open 1 to 4 p.m. every day but Monday and Friday.

History buffs also can investigate the past at the Wharton County Historical Museum, located on the eastern edge of Wharton off U.S. 59 Business. Exhibits include displays of rifles the Mexican army used in its Gulf Coast campaign during the Texas Revolution and items donated from veterans of several American wars.

The museum contains a display on the Texas Gulf Sulphur plant, which once fueled a booming economy in New Gulf, and a room filled with big-game trophies from former Wharton County resident Marshall Johnson's hunts.

For information call 979-532-2600.

A number of recreation opportunities also are available southwest of El Campo.

Auto racing fans can watch a variety of stock car racing divisions at Texana Raceway Park, located on CR 412 just outside Edna. The track hosts races every other Saturday and typically serves up plenty of crashes, owner Bruce Tesch says.

"It's loud. It gets exciting," he says. "It's good, clean family fun."

In addition, Lake Texana State Park offers opportunities for camping, boating, swimming, fishing and hiking. The park, located 6.5 miles east of Edna on Texas 111, is open daily, with the entrance gate opening at 7 a.m. For more information, call 361-782-5718.

Also, the Lower Colorado River Authority's recently-opened Matagorda Bay Nature Park offers guided kayak trips, birding and age-appropriate educational programs for students in kindergarten through 12th grade. A natural science center with classrooms and scientific exhibits is planned for opening in 2007.

Located at the mouth of the Colorado River on the Matagorda Peninsula, the park offers 70 RV campsites and three fishing piers. For RV information call (979) 863-7120. Visitors can find information or make reservations by e-mailing outdoorprograms@lcra.org or by calling 1-800- 776-5272, extension 3810.

Finally, Brackenridge Plantation Park and Campground offers birding, hiking on the park's 5-mile hike-and-bike trail and 134 campsites, each equipped with electricity, a picnic table, a barbecue grill and fire ring. The park is located on Lake Texana along Texas 111 South. For information call 361-782-5456.