First Lift Station, Pumping station in Mission, Texas.
First Lift Station is a pumping facility in Mission featuring a striking 106-foot tall brick chimney about 6 feet in diameter, constructed with materials from the Madero region. The structure displays the engineering of a steam-powered system that transported water to the surrounding agricultural areas.
Built in 1907, the facility was among the earliest irrigation projects in the Rio Grande Valley. Wood-fired steam boilers powered the system and enabled large-scale irrigation of farmland in a previously difficult-to-cultivate region.
The station represents early irrigation technology that made farming possible in the Rio Grande Valley. Visitors can see how engineering innovation brought water to a drier region.
The site is now a public park with good accessibility and open spaces to explore. The remaining chimney structure and surroundings can be visited on foot and provide clear views of the historical remains.
The system required about 26 workers and multiple mule teams to keep operations running continuously. Wood consumption was substantial, with several cords of fuel burned through in each cycle of operation.
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