Hurricanes have marked corpus christis history and culture. Weve got something for everyone, check out our trip ideas to start planning your vacation today. It is separated from the gulf of mexico by mustang island, and is fed by the nueces river and oso creek from its western and southern extensions, nueces bay and oso bay. Corpus christi by scott williams arcadia publishing books. It always struck me a little out of rhythmform follows function although i couldnt articulate exactly why.
In corpus christi, known along the texas gulf coast as the sparkling city by the sea, one of the most significant of these projects is its preww ii downtown seawall. The city of corpus christi initiated the design and construction of a comprehensive repair and rehabilitation project. Professor philip tissot joined us at corpus christis massive seawall built here after one of the many killer storms that have thrashed the coast over the years. This book is a photographic record of southern pacific in eastern texas during the 50year period following world war ii to the 1996 merger with the union pacific railroad. An evaluation of the overall condition of the seawall, levees and floodgates concluded that several portions would probably sustain moderate to severe damage in a 100year hurricane event. The impact of the 1919 hurricane on the port of corpus christi. The people of corpus christi and their seawall gulf coast books. Bayfront, castlelike home in corpus christi getting. Theres also a selena statue at the seawall where fans leave notes and take pictures. Ellis beach and the upper padre island seawall is a popular corpus christi destination for beachside fun. Corpus christis university of the air naval history. How a devastating 1919 hurricane inspired corpus christi to build. Dozens of socalled yellow perilsnaval aircraft factory n3n3 primary trainersfill the ramps, taxiways, and sky at rodd field, one of naval air station corpus christis auxiliary fields, in a 1942 watercolor by vernon howe bailey.
Skyline and seawall vtg boats harbor scene corpus christi,tx vtg 1957 postcard. The lifesize bronze statue of selena was sculpted by h. Dusty durrill remembered as philanthropist, businessman. Census bureau estimated the citys population at 285,175, making it the eighthlargest city in the state. South texas stories hurricanes in corpus christi bell. Delivery times may vary, especially during peak periods. The hurricane inspired corpus christi in its efforts to secure a deepwater port and build a protective seawall. It was clear that something had to be done to protect the community against future. Corpus christi downtown seawall all you need to know. It is an indispensable provider of urban services to south texas, as well as a port of international significance. I just want everyone to know how much we, at the seawall, appreciate all of you.
Southern pacific also played an important role in developing the ports of beaumont, galveston, houston, and corpus christi. A history of the storm has not been published until now. Wagner,s book seems more likely to appeal to the general public. How a devastating 1919 hurricane inspired corpus christi. She is also a former instructor in history, economics, and geography for the corpus christi independent school district. The book details the storms path and landfall in corpus christi, and. Without a doubt, the single most important chapter in the history of the citys bay front, after the 1919 hurricane, was the corpus christi seawall. Corpus christis levees need repair to stand against a. Corpus christi is a coastal city in the south texas region of the u. The translation from latin of the citys name is body of christ, given to the settlement by the spanish, in honor of the blessed sacrament eucharist.
This book is a mustread if youre interested in the tale of the lessthanstraight and many times bumpy path the corpus christi seawall took before the vision to build it became a reality. It is the principal city of the threecounty corpus christi metropolitan statistical area as well as the larger corpus christikingsville combined statistical area. This zone also includes the sports, entertainment and arts district sea district which includes the museum of south texas, the corpus christi museum of science and history, concrete street amphitheater and hurricane alley waterpark. Corpus christis 1919 hurricane corpus christi callertimes. Corpus christi public libraries city of corpus christi. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while reading bulwark against the bay. Corpus christis political seawall history books the. She inspired many books, a movie and other creative works. The corpus christi seawall, just after completion in 1940. Durrill is credited with several highprofile projects, including the installation of the miradores on the bayfront seawall and a memorial. Hotels near american bank center convention center. It took decades of tragic events, including the loss of hundreds of lives in an unnamed 1919 hurricane, local as well as national political maneuvering. Corpus christis political seawall history books the daily news. The city of corpus christi adopted a tax rate that will raise more taxes for maintenance and operations than last years tax rate.
Southern pacific railroad in eastern texas on apple books. The storm flooded the lower portion of galveston island outside the protected area of the seawall. The engineering of downtown revolves around the impact of hurricanes. Corpus christi downtown seawall 2020 all you need to. Hotels near corpus christi museum of science and history. Voters approved a sales tax for corpus christis seawall. A study has been performed to assess the ability of the 312 mile system to provide continued hurricane and tidewater flood protection for the city. Download it once and read it on your kindle device, pc, phones or tablets. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. Any coastal bend character with a deep sense of appreciation for local history will tell you that if you find yourself in corpus christi, you should make time to visit heritage park. If youre looking for the perfect getaway spot for families, friends, or even individuals look no further than corpus christi. The project included the building of the municipal marina, expanding the bay front between water street and the seawall, and the development of drainage for the downtown area of the city.
Unless otherwise arranged or noted, all tours depart from the parking lot adjacent to the art center of corpus christi at 100 n. One of the most visited tourist destinations in the area and worth the quick drive. The corpus christi tidewater flood protection system system was constructed during the years 1939 to 1942. Corpus christi, with the seawall under construction, in 1940 library of congresslcusf346038305db at the time, seawalls were made of vertical, concreted steel sheets to keep water at bay.
Horseback riding service in corpus christi, texas 16562 s padre island dr, corpus christi, tx 78418 port aransas quick 3045 minute drive. In addition to traditional print collections, patrons also have access to the internet, audiobooks, blurays, downloadable media, and a variety of digital publications. South texas stories hurricanes in corpus christi bell library. Corpus christi a history documents the stories of the people who strove to make. The corpus christi seawall was designated as a texas historic civil engineering landmark in 1988. How many observers would have predicted that the finest urban history to date about a texas city would take as its subject corpus christi. Corpus christi, texas, key site for mexicanamerican history. Two million dollar seawall now being completed at corpus. The photographs for this book came from the corpus christi public librarys archives of more than 11,000 historical photographs. Flashback to corpus christi when i was about 6 years old and first noticed the fauxadobe home on the corner of louisiana and ocean drive. A stroll through the history of the seawall corpus christi.
Celia swirled on a steady west northwest course aimed at the corpus christi area. A favorite destination of visitors to the texas coast, corpus christi is a midsize city that manages to be both cosmopolitan and provincial, networked and local. He is coauthor of the insiders guide to corpus christi and haunted texas and has handpicked around 200 stunning images to celebrate his hometown. Mary jo orear after a devastating hurricane in 1919, the people of corpus christi faced the stark reality of their vulnerability. Once the primary landmark to grace the corpus christi bayfront, the stately nueces county courthouse was a crowning architectural achievement of the early 1900s, a symbol of law and justice in a wild and woolly coastal frontier with a history of rough and tough times down through the years. The deadliest hurricane in corpus christi history strikes sept. The city of corpus christi told us this on the 4th of july. Designed for protection against storm swells for the hotel resorts and condominiums it guards the wall is perfect for walking, bicycling, skating and more right along the gulf of mexico. By the late 1990s, however, the years had taken their toll note, most engineers think 50 years is doing great for a seawall exposed to some of the toughest elements nature can dish. How corpus christi built the seawall corpus christi callertimes. Occasionally confused with the seawall in downtown corpus christi the seawall on north padre island is quite different.
Corpus christi, texas, a destination for latino history. What its like in corpus christi after harvey texas standard. The storm of 1919 was a major hurricane along the coast of texas with 284 people missing in chorpus christi and the surrounding territory, however, galveston experienced no loss of life. While hurricane harvey is still fresh in everyones memories, this is not the only storm to leave an impact on corpus christi. Corpus built a seawall, lower than the one in galveston, which, after all, juts directly into the gulf of mexico rather than resting behind a shallow bay.
Surfers, sunbathers and beach volleyball games are all common sights on this beautiful onemile stretch of paradise in the gulf of mexico. Old bayview cemetery is a hidden historical gem in corpus christi. Corpus christi bay is a scenic semitropical bay on the texas coast found in san patricio and nueces counties, next to the major city of corpus christi. Each storm impacted the city and changed its landscape. This site houses twelve of corpus christis oldest and most historic homes, with many of them registered as texas historical landmarks. Permanently perched on the states periphery, corpus, a city of 316,000 442,000 in the metro area seems always consigned to secondary status. How a devastating 1919 hurricane inspired corpus christi to build a seawall one early design, by the man who built mount rushmore, included a giant statue of christ.
Its industries and military bases and, increasingly, its coastal research institutes give it a range of connections. Many piers and other wooden structures along the bay are swept away. In this short volume, mary jo orear tackles community resilience, business boosterism, texas political factionalism, naked selfinterest, and engineering failures and successes as she unwinds the story of the construction of the corpus christi, texas, seawall in the two decades following the disastrous hurricane of october 1919 that left several hundred dead and much of the city a flooded. They are planning on putting a dog park and food trucks up on top. Such was the case in corpus christi, where the seawall, shoreline boulevard. The county seat of nueces county, it also extends into aransas, kleberg, and san patricio counties. This parking lot is located on the north side of the art center and is also adjacent to the seawall. The cleanup involved the entire city and resulted in a mountain of debris piled at the edge of the bay at halls bayou. Padre island sea wall beach corpus christi 2020 all. Two million dollar seawall now being completed at corpus christi, texas. And while corpus christi doesnt have a huge number of museums or landmarks connected to latino history, visitors can find plenty of interesting. Galvestons seawall and the story of its creation are known and had been written about. In 1988, corpus christis seawall was dedicated as a texas historical civil engineering landmark by the texas arm of the american society of civil engineers.
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