Tag Archives: Dennis Franke

New Museum Gives SPI A Heritage

Community Featured News Recreation & Tourism Comments
South Padre Island community and business leader Dennis Franke is seeing his dream of a historical museum on the Island coming to fruition after years of planning and fund raising.

Three South Padre Island community leaders met in 2009 to advance an idea that their city could be more than a beach resort destination. Dennis Franke, Steve Hathcock and Rod Bates founded the South Padre Island Historical Foundation with the expressed goal of establishing a museum of history. The wish of having a museum featuring the history of the Island seemed like a longshot given the resources it would take…

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Island Museum To Display Coastal History

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Artist rendering of the new Historical Museum of South Padre Island (courtesy)

The city of South Padre Island will see the building of its long-awaited historical museum after being awarded a $1.5-million federal grant via funds from the American Rescue Plan.  The grant will go through the Economic Development Administration and will be matched with $375,00 in local funds. It is expected to generate $1.2 million in private investment. City leaders hope the new museum will be open by summer 2023. Community…

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