https://www.aileenhenderson.com/home daily 1.0 2026-05-16 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/0d0cd1ac-edea-4b0e-be66-03b6d4e1cb0f/4+cropped.jpg https://www.aileenhenderson.com/childrens-adventure-novels daily 0.75 2026-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/f8974831-60fa-484e-b2e6-5f1b132f1d6c/2nd+brighter+Cover+Summer+of+the+Bonepile+Monster.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/ef664d52-62ff-446a-bbdd-53b9e1290244/The+Horses+of+Lost+Valley.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/526e83b1-273e-456b-9d08-e0aecda8a027/Panther+cover+9-26-26+drk+brn+margin+new+TITLE+author.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/a8f538f7-a14c-481c-94a9-78510d5c9fe1/Trimmed+Cover+Hard+Times+for+Jake+Smith.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/b30a247e-22dc-4bef-ad7b-1c5655c1c397/Bright+Monkey+Thief.jpg https://www.aileenhenderson.com/contact daily 0.75 2026-07-18 https://www.aileenhenderson.com/writing-tips daily 0.75 2026-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/6ccbe73e-5332-4d2b-87db-660930bd0a77/Aileen+Henderson+photo+1+%28no+credit%29.jpg https://www.aileenhenderson.com/memoir-and-biography daily 0.75 2026-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/68c16906-8f9c-4610-aa0d-ed30284c7623/Dime+Store+Cover.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/58c2d6da-d734-4596-a0ff-66fa7df78cbc/Cover+-+When+the+Wolf+Camped+at+Our+Door.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/3548497e-15f0-4d10-8d2a-2d24f73d81de/Bright+Tenderfoot+Teacher+cover+001.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/304fce37-0bae-4efc-81c2-5d82dd37cfd5/Better+yet+Eugene+Allen+Smith%27s+Alabama+cover+001.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/81988dbc-890f-40e0-9aed-29b4a9887b24/brighter+stateside+soldier+cover+001.jpg https://www.aileenhenderson.com/big-bend-texas-nearby-mexico daily 0.75 2026-06-27 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/1784231514857-80Q5D48UYZYFH3OB7YYE/Slides%2BFotobridge%2B3rd%2Bset%2Bcopied%2BMarch%2B2009%2B362.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/a3b5cab7-0cad-43a6-adc2-41b3c0969591/13d+ready+46575+more+slides+01+p004.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico The Big Bend region, Aileen was told when she accepted a job teaching there, was a place where even a Texas Ranger feared to go alone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/5f6232a0-e10d-4827-8057-99f9a6e33ea7/2+ready+0306_Bag+02+a001+24+Jan54TopOfLostMineTrail.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Can you spot the boy in the middle of this photo? Lost Mine Trail, January 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/585793b6-7ed8-4fd4-a312-4505bd39fc79/4+ready+46575+more+slides+01+p030.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico A local family heads to town. This is a car full of cowboy hats. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/7ccd88fd-0f7a-42b8-a416-603852434008/5+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+257+Jack%26Boots+on+RiverRoad.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Stopping for lunch. The fire is hot and the potatoes are frying. But don't do this today! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/afe035a5-9672-441a-8527-da7e0da56c7f/8+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+374.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico San Vicente school where Aileen taught. She also lived at the school. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/3225065e-bf77-4eed-b1e3-7dccbca82888/9+ready+Big+Bend+schoolchildren+cropped+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Aileen was very proud of her students, their hard work, their achievements, and how they welcomed her into their lives. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/b9975332-db83-4752-be30-1026dba07ab1/10+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+419+Jan54+SanVicente+C.S..jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico The playground at Aileen's school. You can read more about her adventures in Big Bend in her book Tenderfoot Teacher. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/2a81fd5a-0cd7-4e7e-8a21-0c75ebf02062/11b+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+373+Jan54Willie.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Aileen's groceries were delivered once a week by Willie, who drove several hours from his store to deliver to the park. Here, he's just unloaded her food box. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/6af3535b-644c-44a3-b0b1-c5226b64ef43/11+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+386+sez+Bill+isStudyingSpelling.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico This slide label says that Bill is studying spelling in the schoolyard before going in to class. He must have had a test coming up! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/099214d6-b5d7-40e9-bcf3-f380607d267c/3b+ready+0300_Bag+02+a001+19.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico “Everything in Big Bend stings, sticks, or stinks,” Aileen was told when she arrived at the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/60f0c65e-f825-4ee4-8600-4d698aa6c1b5/11cb+ready+0303_Bag+02+a001+21.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico But she found a world of beauty, in spite of what she was told. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/be9a338b-0126-4af2-9fab-07d3eee97339/3+ready+0364_Bag+02+b021+LowerHotSpringsJan54MexBkgrndHorseChango.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico A government River Rider on patrol, watching for cattle with hoof-and-mouth disease. Across the Rio Grande is Mexico. Photo taken at Lower Hot Springs, Jan. 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/eddea2b5-e937-44a8-9ff3-5192d98e6aa9/IMG_20240826_0005.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Immense cliffs tower over a River Rider: Mexico on one side, U.S. on the other. Photo by Glenn Burgess. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/f450870a-5a5d-4c19-8de6-01b07bfa2536/Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+423.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico In 1953 Aileen decided to buy a camera that could take color slides instead of the more common black-and-white film. She wanted to show the vivid colors of Big Bend. Although these pictures are three-quarters of a century old, the colors are still bright. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/97411d17-c0bc-4829-89db-f2a8f883ed7b/2b+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+367+Etta+Koch+PattyKochApr54.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Etta Koch with daughter Patti, April 1954. Etta lived at Hot Springs, painted murals, and worked for the National Park Service. Her husband was well-known photographer Peter Koch. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/3d6e7e4f-5831-48c4-8750-8900a1c371f6/2c+ready+0310_Bag+02+a001+28+sunrise+SierraDelCarmenMx.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Sunrise on the Sierra del Carmen, across the Rio Grande in Mexico. Etta Koch (see previous photo) said that these mountains reminded her of a pink layer cake. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/1782587283359-OD46H9C3OWFGZPXXQY7U/Slides%2BFotobridge%2B3rd%2Bset%2Bcopied%2BMarch%2B2009%2B990.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Aileen and daughter await their turn to cross the Rio Conchos bridge at Ojinaga, Mexico, near Big Bend. Taken when Aileen revisited the park in Jan. 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/1782587804829-QDM6L4HT2IC5CV0KLJBJ/Slides%252BFotobridge%252B3rd%252Bset%252Bcopied%252BMarch%252B2009%252B424.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico The young cowboy on the horse explained that his job was to follow the cow and keep her out of trouble. January 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/8eb8cc69-10e5-4aeb-a84a-1b62a39513b6/Cropped+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+411+PetraAcostaBenevidezAbuelosTerlingua.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Grandparents of one of Aileen's students at their home in Terlingua, with Aileen's husband and daughter, January 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/b7fb7891-4c6d-46e7-8b82-05aec6ec811d/6+ready+0340_Bag+02+a001+6.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Gilberto Luna settled here in 1916 and raised a large family. They lived in this home in Big Bend until the 1940s, just a few years before this picture was made. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/10882f92-8cf9-43f9-80a6-d0693208f02c/7+ready+46575+more+slides+02+o033.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico The Luna family wagon parked for the last time under this mesquite. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/e8a8df22-5036-43a1-8504-11a4eebf005e/Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+357.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico At the Gilberto Luna home place. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/97330314-0e5e-4ba0-8f63-684fa7757b92/11ca+ready+0313_Bag+02+a001+30.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Aileen’s Girl Scouts on an expedition in the park. Her classroom included students of different ages and different grades. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/1d729d9e-16d7-4886-b99d-4499ec97e87f/11d+ready+0304_Bag+02+a001+22+The+Boot+fr+South+Rim+Trail+May54.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico The Boot, a landmark in Big Bend National Park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/c1d295e3-e212-4312-bb1f-236c1ee711b7/11e+ready+0295_Bag+02+a001+14.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Soft, lush flowers contrast with dry spiny vegetation. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/975d0905-c19c-4c81-a685-5955c210558e/19c+ready+cropped+red+racer+0292_Bag+02+a001+11.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Red racer, a harmless resident of the park. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/8a080299-25a4-41d6-964d-7178e0ae8579/ready+rafters.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Aileen's rafting group sets forth down the Rio Grande in a leftover World War II life raft. Their supplies are in cardboard boxes. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/c11240a2-3990-4a6f-a7d1-539769df1552/12b+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+222.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Aileen loved rafting through the canyons of Santa Elena and Mariscal. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/cb3cbc5b-5e16-4390-8f46-fd91f5d4f657/13+ready+0335_Bag+02+a001+50.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico The rafters make camp. Only one rafting group that included a woman was known to have floated through before Aileen’s group. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/21857e4b-71f9-4556-a6a3-20d0dbbedf19/IMG_20240826_0003.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Easter morning 1954 in Mariscal Canyon. Aileen is in the wide-billed cap. Photo by Glenn Burgess. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/58473374-8303-4337-b064-ad5227f19674/12a+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+306+Mariscal+Canyon+Apr%2754.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Once they began the float through a canyon, there was no escape except to continue to the end. The cliffs formed an impenetrable wall. Mariscal Canyon, April 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/384e6ed7-2dac-44d1-a478-7265b8735f17/16+ready+0378_Bag+02+b035.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Sheepshearing camp, Gulliher Ranch, Rosillos Mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/c02c9af4-83d2-45c2-8f16-0f4ddf891bbb/17+Ready+0363_Bag+02+b020.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Wouldn't you like to gather round and join the crew for fried potatoes, beans, biscuits, and stew! Notice their bedrolls in the background. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/142267a8-f1cb-486e-9d7f-80ab6e27dcb8/ready+sheep+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+279+Mar%2754+Guliher+Rnch+in+Rosillas+Mtns.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Shearing the sheep, Rosillos Mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/3473c879-45ca-451e-87fc-1b03d396aea3/Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+975.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico The chuck wagon, Gulliher Ranch, Rosillos Mountains. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/0ed917a1-ef49-43e2-a294-edc9fcbc8301/19a+Ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+359+Maggie+Smith+Jan65.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico The legendary Maggie Smith at her store shortly before she died. People from both sides of the border counted on Maggie when in need, to deliver a baby, arbitrate a dispute, or feed a hungry child. Aileen & daughter are on left. Jan. 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/e8dec49d-ea61-4e31-ae99-a74565ea0476/14+ready+0349_Bag+02+b006.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Signs of Big Bend’s original inhabitants were everywhere. Here, a grinding stone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/8537214f-c68c-4360-997e-60ad8452482d/18+ready+0329_Bag+02+a001+45.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Mr. Drake’s truck, which ran on gasoline or butane. It had 15 gears and needed an oil change only every 30,000 miles. April 1954. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/de7b72d0-3c1a-43fc-9ecc-87ec52eaed4c/18b+ready+46575+more+slides+02+o050+La+Harmonia+store+SEE+NOTES+FOR+ID.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Old-time Big Bend resident Bob Cartledge at La Harmonia store with the Boots Dott family, January 1954. Don't miss the sleeping dog in lower left. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/c237a233-084e-445b-8194-b3a98d6a5c7b/19b+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+281+Bob%26LynneHyneTerlinguaTurnoffNov53+deer+patrol.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico This artist painted Big Bend scenes while her husband worked in the park. Yes, that’s a six-shooter on her hip, as she painted in isolated places and had to be prepared for anything. Nov. 1953. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/0658ee45-d6cf-4701-81e0-dfd1df3a91bd/19d+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+289+IndianLodgeFtDavisNov%2753.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico The historic Indian Lodge built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930s. Fort Davis, November 1953. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/4d2aea7d-462a-4047-b212-d8e7af349bdb/22+ready+46575+more+slides+03+o049+AK+by+tree.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Aileen on the banks of the Rio Grande, dressed for a party. The Lajitas barbecue was a famous event and everyone showed up for it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/7715c223-af67-4e57-a8c1-985bac32aa91/23+ready+0315_Bag+02+a001+32+Lajitas+Dec53.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Some of Aileen’s students going for a river cruise at Lajitas, December 1953. One riverbank is Mexico, the other is U.S. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/d1ffb8b0-d6b8-4c54-ac04-5126624e6e56/24+ready+46575+more+slides+01+p038+SEE+NAMES+IN+NOTES.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico The cooks at the Lajitas barbecue, December 1953: Art Minish, Rex Ivey, and a river rider. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/d4f6ab4b-a024-4537-9074-9f05718215b8/25+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+258+Lajitas+barbecue.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico At the Lajitas barbecue day. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/fed59e0b-36a2-4c34-9be8-2bbcdfa734e3/26+ready+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+303+Lajitas+Dec%2753+CathChapel.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Catholic mission chapel at Lajitas. Photo taken December 1953. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/60a8f087-66ac-4b0b-b834-733724338a6a/27f+ready+Water+bags+cropped+0362_Bag+02+b019.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico A family with their burro transporting water from the Rio Grande to their home in Mexico. Aileen described the waterbags: woven of lechuguilla, with a cow horn as a stopper. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/628c2367-e4d5-4971-b9e9-b529f59ed9d3/28+ready+0346_Bag+02+b003.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico The ever-changing skies of Big Bend. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/28aa27b1-9622-498e-99e8-3a7e49db3b8a/15+ready+0359_Bag+02+b016.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico In Aileen's middle-grade adventure novel Treasure of Panther Peak, her characters must find their way through landscapes like this. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/4aea1673-a949-4865-b5fb-23607fb8f33d/Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+985.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Aileen and daughter look down on the Rio Grande on a return visit in 1965. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/c31b00ce-7ba2-43fd-8e17-522db5d08f71/21+ready+0308_Bag+02+a001+26.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Low-lying mist in the canyons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/3e82b82f-6884-4d4f-9759-fe3fd1e9f9a7/20+ready+46575+more+slides+01+p006.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Rainbow cloud, which plays a role in Aileen's middle-grade novel Treasure of Panther Peak. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/afd2607c-385e-4c0c-abb6-bf54e1639281/27g+ready+straight+big+bend+Slides+Fotobridge+3rd+set+copied+March+2009+225.jpg Big Bend, Texas, & nearby Mexico Sunset in the Big Bend. https://www.aileenhenderson.com/great-smokies-blue-ridge-parkway daily 0.75 2026-06-03 https://www.aileenhenderson.com/east-coast-us daily 0.75 2026-06-03 https://www.aileenhenderson.com/world-war-ii daily 0.75 2026-06-03 https://www.aileenhenderson.com/costa-rica daily 0.75 2026-06-03 https://www.aileenhenderson.com/badlands-of-north-dakota-nearby daily 0.75 2026-06-03 https://www.aileenhenderson.com/about daily 0.75 2026-06-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/11e36338-aa1e-4168-8fa4-47e814716d4a/cropped+Tobias+on+computer+P1010008.JPG https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/dc15bdf5-b4dd-4c98-b5f4-93400e9ff441/Aileen+age+16+with+her+pet+calf https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/d5724685-26a1-4638-884c-dbff02d0e15e/Brighter+27.jpg https://www.aileenhenderson.com/ghost-story daily 0.75 2026-07-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/6a061667efe37d381bf6161e/bb712f30-7c0e-4a68-af60-b1eaee57f233/best+Goree+cover+w+title+final+9-26.jpg https://www.aileenhenderson.com/california daily 0.75 2026-06-06