SAN MARCOS, Texas — A new public art project, featuring 10 mermaid statues, just went up on Tuesday in different parts of San Marcos.
Lanette Cummings and her children were on a mission to photograph all 10 on Tuesday.
"Mermaids are a great way to go," Cummings said.
The colorful art installations will be up for the next year and a half.
But what do mermaids have to do with the city? A lot said July Moreno, the founder of the Mermaid Society SMTX.
"The symbol of the mermaid is really where I felt could be very powerful for our community," said Moreno.
She started the group to make people think beyond the city's image.
"When people think of San Marcos, they immediately, at least for the most part when they're traveling here, the outlet malls, which is wonderful and while we are grateful for that, and then its just kind of a pass through town," Moreno said.
Moreno said the mermaids came from the Aquamaids show that started in the 1950s and ended in the 90s at Aquarena Springs. It included Ralph, the pig, which is memorialized in one of the statues.
Moreno said the mermaids also act as protectors of the San Marcos River.
"We are the only city in Texas that can make the claim to the mermaid because of Aquarena Springs, and we are really excited and proud about that because San Marcos is really the Mermaid Capital of Texas one day," said Moreno.