1868 R.H. Wood House

03/21/2026

Amazing exhibit of our own LOUNGE sign’s creator, Todd Sanders from Austin! A must see event at the Rockport Center for the Arts

09/29/2025

This is so great I can hardly stand it. It's a house that was built by Irish immigrants out of oyster shells in 1850. The house was in Port O'Connor. John Vachon took this photo of the house in 1943, 93 years after it was built. The whole process of making houses out of oyster shells is fascinating.

Here’s how it worked: people collected heaps of oyster shells, often from old middens (ancient shell piles left behind by Native peoples or settlers). The shells were burned in a kiln to create lime. When oyster shells are heated, the calcium carbonate in them turns into quicklime. That quicklime was then mixed with water, sand, and more whole oyster shells. The result was a kind of primitive concrete—strong, durable, and resistant to moisture. Builders poured this mixture into wooden forms, much like modern concrete, and let it harden.

When the forms were removed, the walls had a distinctive speckled look, with oyster shells showing throughout. Over time, the surface could be plastered or whitewashed, but sometimes the shell-studded texture was left exposed. The material was especially common in coastal areas of Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, but it was also used in Texas and Louisiana where oyster shells were plentiful.

So this house isn't literally just stacked oyster shells like bricks—it was oyster shells transformed into a concrete-like substance that could last for centuries. In fact, some oyster shell structures from the 1700s are still standing today. And some of the oyster shell structures in Texas, built in the 1800s, still stand.

Aren't I just a fountain of knowledge at 2:00 a.m.?

09/25/2025

The Old Light House at Point Isabel

This photo of the lighthouse at Point Isabel dates back to around 1938. The lighthouse was constructed in 1852 after numerous shipwrecks in the region.

📸: DeGolyer Library, Southern Methodist University

08/18/2025

Seventy-five years ago, a burger stand opened in Corpus Christi, launching a Texas icon.

Harmon Dobson, a World War II veteran, had no prior restaurant experience, but sought a business investment. In true Texan form, his vision was to make a burger so big that it would elicit an incredulous cry from those who saw it: “What a burger!”

On August 8, 1950, the first Whataburger opened at 2609 Ayers St. That day the stand sold $50 worth of burgers, chips, and drinks, with a hamburger costing 25 cents. (The price increased to 35 cents after 1951.)

At 5 inches across, Dobson’s burgers were so much larger than other restaurants’ 2½-inch sliders that bakeries didn’t make buns big enough to hold them. Dobson had to commission a handmade set of extra-large pans.

Whataday!

📸: Whataburger

08/18/2025

Indianola began as a campsite for the Karankawa, who traveled seasonally between Gulf Coast locations like this spit of land separating Matagorda Bay from Powderhorn Lake. By the time of the Texas Republic, the Karankawa had largely been killed or driven away from their lands as new Texans settled the region. The first permanent house at Indianola was built in 1845, and the town was officially established the next year.

From the 1840s to the 1870s, Indianola grew into a fine harbor city. Its economy was fueled by German immigration—the city had been selected by the Adelsverein, a German society, as the waystation into the rest of Texas. Hospitals, factories, and hotels were built to accommodate travelers and residents. At its height, more than 6,000 people lived in Indianola, the Calhoun County seat at the time.

Then, in 1875, disaster hit. Indianola was packed with people who’d come to town to watch a high-profile murder trial. A hurricane rolled across the bay, battering the town, carrying seawater deep into Indianola for two days. As many as 300 people were killed. The port and nearly all the town’s buildings were destroyed.

Eleven years later—August 19, 1886—a second, even stronger hurricane knocked out the partially rebuilt Indianola. The city became a ghost of itself.

📷: Indianola in 1873, courtesy UTA Special Collections, Fort Worth Star-Telegram Collection

03/02/2025

Rest, relax and refuel. We can vouch for that !

Jean Lafitte is one of the most infamous and legendary pirates of the Gulf Coast. He is often associated with Texas, including the area around Rockport, where he reportedly spent time during his piratical career. Although the details about his life and his activities in the region are shrouded in mystery and myth, there are several aspects of his story that tie him to Rockport, Texas, and the surrounding coastal areas.

Lafitte is said to have used the Texas coast as a haven to rest, resupply, and perhaps even hide from authorities. His fleet of ships, known for their speed and agility, could easily navigate the waters along the Texas coastline, including the Aransas Bay area. According to some accounts, Lafitte's ships would often land near Rockport or the surrounding areas to avoid capture or to offload stolen goods and smuggled cargo. The bayous, estuaries, and hidden coves along the Texas coast provided ample opportunities for pirates like Lafitte to hide their ships and avoid detection.

One of the most enduring aspects of Jean Lafitte's connection to Rockport is the legend of his buried treasure. Like many pirates, Lafitte is said to have accumulated a great deal of wealth during his career, and there are countless stories about hidden treasure buried along the Gulf Coast. Some believe that Lafitte hid his loot in various locations, including near Rockport. Over the years, treasure hunters have searched the Rockport area, hoping to uncover parts of Lafitte’s alleged fortune. While no confirmed treasure has ever been found, the idea of buried treasure continues to attract interest in the region.

Even though Lafitte’s direct involvement in Rockport may be difficult to verify, his legend continues to thrive in Texas folklore. His connection to the Gulf Coast, including the area around Rockport, is woven into local history.

Image via Rosenberg Library

02/07/2025

Thanks to Anne Bergstrom Hunt for the fabulous Railroad Crossing sign she donated for our Rockport Railroad Depot Museum! Anne and her husband Jeff are ardent preservationists, having restored two historic homes in the Rockport Cultural Arts District - RCAD — The 1868 Fulton-Bruhl House and the 1868 R.H. Wood House, which is available as a short-term rental. We love having the Hunts in our neighborhood!

Learn more about the houses:
https://www.theachistorycenter.com/history-mystery-1/what-are-the-oldest-homes-in-rockport%3F

01/17/2025

06/14/2024

One day in 1839, a man by the name of Robert Cornelius sat for 15 minutes in front of a hand built camera made of opera glass and sheets of copper. His picture became the first “selfie” ever taken.