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Exploring the Texas Independence Trail Region – Day 3

Posted by diannbayes on

On day 3 of our Texas Independence Trail Region tour, we left La Porte and took the long way around to Bolivar Peninsula so we could ride the Galveston-Port Bolivar Ferry. Debbie had never ridden on a ferry so I thought we should give it a go. And, I mean, free ferry ride, who am I to say no to that? When Debra, Morgan, and I rode the ferry on our Texas perimeter tour, it was a great experience and I knew it would be the same for Debbie and me.

  • Black-headed gull hanging out on the ferry.
  • Debbie and I were birds of a feather…see what I did there?
  • Built in 1872, the Bolivar Point Lighthouse has been around for a while.
I could have done this all day. There’s something peaceful about the sound of the birds, the water, and the ferry noise that is so relaxing.
I must admit I really love Galveston. I’ve visited the island for play and work and learn something new just about every time I’m there. While Debbie and I didn’t get to see all we wanted to, we had a great time exploring The Strand and spending some time on the beach. (Tip: if you drive a little further from Galveston city proper, the beach isn’t nearly as crowded.)

I’ve always been fascinated by the 1900 Hurricane that hit the island over a century ago. As the city with the most historic homes in Texas, it’s hard to believe anything survived that tragic event that took the lives of so many. Estimates range from 6,000 to 12,000 fatalities. If you enjoy reading, I highly recommend Isaac’s Storm by Erik Larsen. Later hurricanes have damaged the city including Hurricane Ike, which damaged many trees, due to winds and salt water. The Galveston Island Tree Sculpture tour is a great option to experience from your car and is made up of trees that didn’t survive Ike.
I’d never actually driven the full length of the island until we drove the perimeter of Texas. I suppose I knew Surfside Beach and Freeport existed but, for some reason, I always thought of Galveston as a community all to itself. That’s definitely not the case. The drive is wonderful and you can see more beachfront and also an array of beautiful, pastel-colored homes on the drive. I snapped this photo on our previous trip between Galveston and Surfside Beach.

If you drive up Hwy. 288 from Surfside Beach towards Angleton, you’ll see something white seemingly rising up from the ground. As you get closer, you’ll come upon the statue of Stephen F. Austin, the Father of Texas. Along the base of the statue is a list of the Old 300. These settlers received land grants from the Spanish government. My heart fluttered a little when I saw the last names Richardson and Rankin on the list. Though I’ve yet to find any proof that I’m related to either of the old 300, I’ll continue my search since these are the surnames of my family.

Of all the places we stopped along the way, West Columbia and East Columbia have to be up there with my favorites. Having never been to either, I was excited to learn about these communities. Debbie and I stopped by the West Columbia Chamber of Commerce and met the Chamber CEO/President, who shared the two city’s rich history. She even took us next door to see the replica of the first capitol of the Republic of Texas. Did you know our first capitol was in West Columbia?

A replica of the first capitol of the Republic of Texas is in West Columbia.
  • Site of the First Capitol of the Republic of Texas
  • The location of Stephen F. Austin’s death
  • Rosenwald School
  • Aldredge-Smith home in East Columbia
  • Carry Nation’s Hotel in East Columbia
While we didn’t get to make it to the Varner-Hogg Plantation State Historic Site, we did get to view the location of the First Capitol of the Republic of Texas, the Capitol of Texas Park in a Walgreen’s parking lot. We also visited the site were Stephen F. Austin died. The Rosenwald School in West Columbia, built by Sears, Roebuck & Co. President Julius Rosenwald and black educator Booker T. Washington, is one of the few remaining schools in existence of the 5,300 built between 1917-1932. Several historic homes remain in East Columbia. One of the most interesting buildings for me was the Carry Nation Hotel site. I knew of Carry Nation, a hatchet-wielding temperast against the consumption of alcohol, when I lived briefly in Kansas.

Our final stop on the last night of our trip around the Texas Independence Trail Region was Victoria. Since we were still relatively close to the Gulf Coast, we decided to stop at Baytown Seafood for dinner. I was still struggling with my taste and smell but I could taste the seasoning on my blackened fish, shrimp, and scallop dinner. Debbie loved her meal and tried a bite of mine, too, so I’ll take her word for it that it was good.

  • Baytown Seafood in Victoria
  • Delicious blackened seafood
  • Old Nazareth Academy in Victoria
  • Riverside Park in Victoria

It was dusk when we finished dinner so we drove the downtown area of Victoria and saw so many beautiful historic buildings. We didn’t get to explore De Leon Plaza or the Museum of the Coastal Bend. Victoria has a History Trail that looked interesting. The next morning, we explored Riverside Park. What a beautiful site to see!

I’ll share the last leg of our tour through Fannin, Goliad, and San Antonio next time. Until then, safe travels!

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Published by diannbayes

I’ve worked in the travel industry for more than 20 years and I’ve been known to wander all my life. I’ve lived in more than 20 cities and towns and had the opportunity to experience a variety of people and places, introducing me to different cultures and allowing me to make friends along the way. I also majored in English in college. I don’t claim to be an excellent writer, proofreader, or grammar queen. I’m an amateur photographer and enjoy sharing the beauty of places I visit and and where I live.

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