Aransas County Historical Markers

Aransas Pass · SH 35 · 1998

According to local lore, George Lewis (1859-1895) donated one-half acre of land at this site to the Hispanic citizens of the area for use as a cemetery, provided that he be buried in the center of the land. Handmade stones indicate burials dating from the 19th century; the first recorded deed was signed in 1933.

Fulton · 110 N. Casterline Dr. · 2016

Founded by Cecil Weber Casterline in the 1930s, his “fish house” initially sourced fish, oysters and shrimp from local fisherman, iced the catch in barrels and shipped them by rail to San Antonio and other destinations. In 1944, Cecil and his father, Frank, purchased the harbor property and acquired several fishing vessels from other fishermen.

Fulton · 205 N. 7th Street · 1988

Located on Aransas Bay, the city of Fulton has a history closely associated with the fishing and shipping industry. The town was founded in 1867 by George Ware Fulton, whose mansion is an important local landmark.

Fulton · 1989

Land for this community graveyard was set aside when the town of Fulton was platted by George Ware Fulton in 1868. The earliest documented burial is that of a child, Louis L.

Fulton · 215 N. 3rd · 2010

Before the growth of fishing and tourism industries, Fulton was a community of only about 200 settlers. Although Sunday schools met in town, residents had to travel to Rockport for worship services.

Fulton · 317 N. Fulton Beach Rd. · 1964

Built between 1874 and 1877 by George Ware Fulton (1810-1893) and his wife, Harriet Smith Fulton (1823-1910), this imposing residence was named Oakhurst. The three-story French Second Empire style home is of plank wall construction, with a shell aggregate concrete basement and characteristic mansard roof.

Fulton · 401 N. 9th St. · 2017

In 1947, an agricultural brush fire quickly accelerated and destroyed a large part of Fulton, starting in Copano Village, crossing the highway and destroying businesses, homes and acres of live oak groves and thickets. Soon after, citizens of Fulton expressed the need for a fire department able to respond to their community quickly.

Fulton · 317 N. Fulton Beach Rd. · 1936

Born at Philadelphia, June 8, 1810. Served in the Texan Army in 1836.

Fulton · Austin Street and Veterans Memorial Drive · 2015

In the early 20th century, Rockport earned its place as a major center for the fishing industry along the Texas coast. In 1906, Roy Jackson opened Jackson Fish Company on the waterfront.

Fulton · Hagy Drive · 1981

This burial ground originally served pioneer settlers of the Lamar community. Founded by James W.

Fulton · Airport Road · 2016

On April 22, 1943, the Civil Aeronautics Administration (CAA) and Aransas County agreed to build an airport for military purpose and public use. A total of 700 acres was purchased and leased to the U.S.

Fulton · 1976

The ruins of this rendering vat mark the location of the Marion Packing Co. (spelled Meriam in some records), one of the dozen or more meat packing plants built in the Rockport-Fulton area in the 1860s and 1870s to process the huge herds of range cattle that roamed Texas after the Civil War.

Fulton · SH 35 · 1936

Site of One of the Homes of James Power Born in Ireland, 1789 Died in Live Oak Point, Texas, 1852 With James Hewetson he was granted authority January 11, 1828 to settle 200 families in Texas Served Texas under three flags as empresario, soldier, statesman Signed the Texas Declaration of Independence Ever a loyal son of his adopted country Honored and loved by his people Erected by the State of Texas 1936.

Fulton · Bois D'Arc Road · 1936

Named for Mirabeau B. Lamar 1798 * * * 1859 President of the Republic of Texas 1838 * * * 1841 Established in 1838 Made a port of entry in 1839 Sacked by Union troops Feb.

Lamar · 1986

Irish immigrant James W. Byrne (1787-1865), a veteran of the Texas Revolution, was an early settler of this area.

Port Aransas · off SH 361 · 1973

Construction of 67-foot tower was started in 1855. The French lens was lighted in 1856, to mark natural Gulf pass to Aransas and Corpus Christi Bays by way of Lydia Ann Channel -- named for the daughter of the first keeper.

Rockport · 301 N. Live Oak · 1990

Created out of the coastal portion of Refugio County in 1871, Aransas County is the second smallest county in Texas. Within its boundaries are three bays of the Gulf of Mexico: Copano, St.

Rockport · E. Orleans Street · 1936

Created September 18, 1871 from Refugio County; Organized in 1871 with Rockport as the county seat Named for the river Nuestra Senora de Aranzazu.

Rockport · 421 John Wendell Rd. · 2001

This aviation facility developed out of a need during World War II for additional air training sites for U.S. Navy pilots.

Rockport · 1028 N. Live Oak · 2011

Aransas County Judge W.H. Baldwin, who promoted Rockport as a deep water port, lived in this house in the 1890s.

Rockport · 617 S. Water Street · 1991

Located on the waterfront in a community that has survived many hurricanes, this house was built about 1868 by Dr. John W.

Rockport · 409 N. Magnolia · 2010

Adolph L. Bracht (1872-1961) was born in Rockport and worked at lumber and grocery stores before establishing his own wholesale and retail grocery in 1899.

Rockport · 1990

(June 14, 1886 - November 29, 1973) Born Conger Neblett in Corsicana, and married to Jack Hagar in 1926, Connie Hagar received early training as a musician. She and her sister became interested in birds and worked as volunteers with the U.S.

Rockport · 1515 N. Live Oak · 1991

Organized in 1873, the First Baptist Church of Rockport originally was located on S. Church Street.

Rockport · 801 E. Main Street · 1991

The Methodist Church has been in existence in Rockport since about 1870. The Rev.

Rockport · 1990

Chartered on October 8, 1890, the First National Bank of Aransas Pass (now Rockport) was organized by a group of businessmen led by John H. Traylor, James M.

Rockport · 514 N. Live Oak Street · 1991

This congregation traces its history to 1869. Although deactivated in 1879, it was reorganized with twenty charter members in 1889.

Rockport · 1789 Bay Shore Dr. · 1999

Dubbed Nine Mile Point by early settlers, this island was first used commercially by the Cushman Meat Packing Company in the late 1860s. Austrian Franz Joseph Frandolig, a horseman who had delivered cattle to Cushman & Co., homesteaded property at this site when the company vacated the land in 1878.

Rockport · 409 N. Broadway · 1988

Built about 1868, this vernacular early Texas home was purchased in 1872 by James C. Fulton, a noted early business and civic leader.

Rockport · 417 N. Broadway · 1989

Prominent local businessman and land developer James M. Hoopes (1839-1931) had this home built between 1890 and 1892.

Rockport · 801 S. Church · 2015

This 1874 house of longleaf pine features full-length gallery porches and such classical revival elements as square columns, dentils and brackets. It was built on Austin Street for the John Hynes family and designed by San Antonio architect Viggo Kohler.

Rockport · 811 N. Live Oak · 2013

Built around 1910, this two-story frame Colonial Revival was used as a boarding house for shipyard employees. The home was also used for shelter for 50 refugees during the 1919 hurricane that devastated the coast.

Rockport · 1962

Soldier in the Texas War for Independence at Goliad, 1835-1836. Erected by the State of Texas, 1962..

Rockport · 1006 St. Mary's St · 2022

When popular hangout “Capt Davis’ Drive-In,” owned by brothers Marvin, Jack and Charlie Davis, burned to the ground in 1942, Charlie’s wife, Mollie Davis, vowed to rebuild it and hired local builder Alva O. Freeman Sr.

Rockport · 902 E. Cornwall St · 2023

marker pending.

Rockport · 302 Bois d'Arc Lamar · 2017

Established by a group of concerned citizens, the Lamar Volunteer Fire Department formed in 1963. The volunteers dedicated themselves to fire prevention, fire-fighting, hurricane patrol, beach patrol and working with the Aransas County Emergency Corps.

Rockport · 621 S. Church Street · 1989

John M. Mathis (1831-1922) had this home built for his family in 1868-69.

Rockport · 2012

McLESTER FAMILY CEMETERY SITUATED AMONG HACKBERRY, MESQUITE AND LIVE OAK TREES, THIS HISTORIC CEMETERY HAS SERVED THE McLESTER FAMILY FOR OVER A CENTURY. CHARLES H.

Rockport · 5802-5866 Highway 35 North · 2011

MILLS WHARF, BUILT BY JOHN HOWARD MILLS IN 1932, WAS A RENOWNED CENTER FOR WATERFOWL HUNTING AND FISHING FROM THE 1930s UNTIL IT WAS SOLD IN 1960. IT CONSISTED OF COTTAGES, A COOK HOUSE, A GUIDE SERVICE OFFICE, A STORE, A TACKLE SHOP, AND A UNIQUE WILDLIFE MUSEUM WITH A FAMOUS DUCK, FEATURED IN “RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT,” WHICH HAD AN OYSTER PERMANENTLY ATTACHED TO ITS FOOT.

Rockport · 413 S. Church St · 2006

Built in 1906, this house was the vision of James Edward (J. Ed) and Josephine Kennedy Moore.

Rockport · FM 1069 · 1991

Danish native Andrew Sorenson (1864-1941), established a reputation as a hunting and fishing guide in this area in the early 20th century. He bought 240 acres of land (.5 mi.

Rockport · 203 N. Magnolia St. · 2018

Born in 1846, Richard Henry Wood was one of the first residents of Rockport. In 1866, Wood partnered with James Doughty and built the first cattle pens, warehouse and wharf at Rockport Harbor.

Rockport · 1988

The town of Rockport was founded by cattlemen J. M.

Rockport · 1988

This cemetery has served the citizens of Rockport and Fulton for over a century. The oldest marked grave is that of Emma Fulton (d.

Rockport · 702 Navigation Circle · 2011

In 1935, Rockport Marine Lab was set up aboard the houseboat Vivian in Rockport Harbor to assist the Texas Game, Fish and Oyster Commission with fisheries management. In 1947, a permanent lab was built on the harbor, a state of the art facility including a public aquarium.

Rockport · 1002 Wharf Street · 1990

The earliest newspaper in this area was The Vaquero, published by Charles F. Bailey and Geraldo A.

Rockport · 619 N Live Oak St · 2006

Rockport School has served the town of Rockport for many years as both an educational and community institution. It dates to 1935, during the era of the Great Depression.

Rockport · 212 N. Gagon · 2015

As Rockport grew as a center of commerce and a tourism destination in the 1880s, businessman Sam Smith, who owned several homes and businesses, donated the city’s first firefighting equipment. The unit cost about $1400 and consisted of a horse-drawn wagon with chemical tanks.

Rockport · 704 Cornwall Street · 1991

Roman Catholic priests visited the Rockport area as early as 1838. The first Mass in the town of Rockport was celebrated in the home of County Judge John Hynes in 1860, and services continued there for a number of years.

Rockport · 105 S. Magnolia Street · 1994

During its early years Rockport relied on Gulf shipping for goods and services. After the arrival of the San Antonio and Aransas Pass Railroad in 1888, however, the town's economic focus changed to include rail shipping and a burgeoning tourism industry.

Rockport · 510 E. King St. · 2023

Born in Houtzdale, Pennsylvania, Simon Michael (1905-2002) showed artistic ability at an early age. He became an artist and itinerant art teacher.

Rockport · 1996

Built in 1889 by civic leader and politician John H. Traylor, the Aransas Hotel covered this city block.

Rockport · 1800 S. Church Street (SH 70) · 1996

Shipping industries flourished on the Rockport waterfront by the 1880s. Heldenfels Shipyard was established here on 12.9 acres in October 1917.

Rockport · 901 N. Austin Street · 2014

Built in 1903 in Old Rockport, this Cottage and Craftsman Style House is an early frame Bungalow surrounded by giant oak trees. In 1920, W.H.

Rockport · 406 S. Austin · 2008

Simon Sorenson, a native of Denmark, bought Brunner's Merchantile at this site in 1886. The building was originally two stories, rebuilt after an 1895 fire.

Rockport · 412 N. Live Oak Street · 1991

The Rt. Rev.

Rockport · 1203 South Water St. · 2011

Tourism has been a major part of the Rockport economy for generations, but in the 1920s and 1930s with the rise of the automobile, more visitors began to travel to the area. The Cedars, built in 1928 by Dr.

Rockport · 1104 E. Concho Street · 2009

In March 1948, Mrs. Fred B.

Rockport · 701 N. Magnolia · 2012

Tobias “T.R.” Wood purchased lots at a sheriff’s auction in 1910 and built this Queen Anne style house. T.R.