Texas Maritime Museum

1202 Navigation Circle * Rockport, TX 78382 * 1-866-729-AHOY (2469) * www.texasmaritimemuseum.org

The Texas Maritime Museum is a 501(c)3 Non-Profit, Privately-funded, Historical Museum located across from the Harbor in Rockport, Texas.  Since opening its doors on July 1, 1989, the Texas Maritime Museum has achieved several goals and continued several successful events.  The museum has three annual events that supply a majority of the operating funds – a Mah Jongg Tournament, the Rockport Festival of Wine and Food, and the Belle Ball.  The museum accepts no state funding and relies on these events as well as admissions and grants to provide the best maritime experience in Texas. 

In August 2005 the Texas Maritime Museum was accredited by the American Association of Museums, becoming one of the top 10% of all museums in the United States.  The museum was also named the “Best Maritime Museum in Texas for 2008” by OfficialBestOf.com.  The following paragraphs explain what the museum’s mission is, what is on display, and the main themes.

The Texas Maritime Museum's mission is to excite and educate the public about Texas' rich maritime history.  Since the days of the Karankawa Indians, the Texas Coast has been a valuable part of history regionally, statewide, nationally, and internationally.
 
The Texas coast would provide a predictable food source for the roaming Karankawas.  Rene Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle attempted to establish a French presence at the Mississippi, but ended up in Matagorda Bay.  His flagship, LaBelle was discovered in 1995 and would become the basis for the LaSalle Odyssey. The port of El Copano was a valuable part of the Texas struggle for independence from Mexico, and in fact changed hands on numerous occasions.
 
Zachary Taylor launched several campaigns from the coast during the Mexican-American War, and the last battle of the Civil War, the Battle of Palmito Creek, was fought near Brownsville.  Since that time, the Gulf Intercoastal Waterway has moved man and machine all along the coast, and the largest oil platform in history, Bullwinkle, was built in Ingleside.
 
The Texas Maritime Museum fulfills its mission by providing exhibits and collecting objects concerning the following four areas:
1. History and Technology of Offshore Petroleum production/transportation.
2. History and development of Texas seaports, maritime communities, and maritime commerce along the Gulf.
3. Exploration/settlement history of the Texas Gulf Coast including Spanish and French.
4. An overview of the Texas seafood/fishing industry.
The Texas Maritime Museum would like to thank you for your support!