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Bloomington, Texas

Everything Bloomington is known for

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Music in Bloomington

Songs About Bloomington

gadalupe days
gary p. nunn
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Artists From Bloomington

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Rivers & Roads in Song near Bloomington

Songs written about the waterways and highways that run near Bloomington.

Guadalupe River 18 songs U.S. Route 59 9 songs San Antonio River 2 songs

History of Bloomington

Placedo, TX RoadyGoat

Placedo, Texas, has a rich history that dates back to the Republic of Texas era. The community is named after Plácido Benavides, a key figure in the Texas Revolution who established a ranch in the area during the 1830s. The San Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railroad further connected Placedo in 1860, and the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway renamed the station Placedo Junction in 1906. Despite a devastating 1925 hurricane, the town's population began to recover in the mid-1930s, fluctuating over the years until reaching an estimated 760 residents by 2000. This resilience and growth over time have shaped Placedo's identity.

5.3 mi away

Placedo, TX RoadyGoat

The name Placedo has a significant historical origin. It is named in honor of Plácido Benavides, a participant and organizer of volunteer troops in the Texas Revolution. Benavides was also an early settler who established a ranch in the area during the 1830s. This name pays tribute to a figure who played a crucial role in the region's history and development.

5.3 mi away

Placedo, TX RoadyGoat

Placedo's founding is deeply rooted in the history of Texas. The community first appeared as a census-designated place in the 2010 U.S. census, but its origins trace back to the Republic of Texas era. The settlement was named for Plácido Benavides, who not only participated in the Texas Revolution but also established a ranch in the area during the 1830s. The San Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railroad further solidified Placedo's importance by establishing a station there in 1860.

5.3 mi away

Fort St. Louis - La Salle's Texas Colony

1685

In the spring of 1685, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, established Fort St. Louis on a bluff above Garcitas Creek in what is now Victoria County. He had sailed from France with four ships and roughly 300 colonists intending to plant a French colony at the mouth of the Mississippi River, but navigated some 400 miles off course and landed instead on the Texas coast. From the start the colony was a disaster. The supply ship L'Aimable had wrecked entering Matagorda Bay; the warship Joly returned to France carrying the colony's military escort; the storeship La Belle would sink in 1686. Cut off from resupply, the colonists died of disease, snakebite, starvation, and Karankawa raids. By 1688, fewer than 25 remained. La Salle made repeated overland expeditions northeast trying to reach the Mississippi or French Illinois, and on one of those marches in March 1687 he was murdered by his own men near present-day Navasota. The Texas Historical Commission excavated the site in 1996-97, recovering thousands of artifacts and the burned remains of the fort itself.

Cottle, Josephine Owaissa [Gale Storm]

1952

Pert, vivacious Gale Storm, movie actress, television star, recording artist, and one of America's minor heartthrobs in the 1950s and 1960s, was born Josephine Owaissa Cottle on April 5, 1922, in the South Texas town of Bloomington to William Walter Cottle and Minnie Corina Cottle. She lost her father when she was only seventeen months old, and her widowed mother struggled to make ends meet for her five children, of which Storm was the youngest. After several moves in the state, the family finally settled in Houston, where Storm attended Albert Sidney Johnston Junior High School and San Jacinto High School. There she excelled at dancing and ice skating and became interested in theater through involvement with the high school dramatic club. In 1939, at the age of seventeen, she was encouraged by two teachers to enter a local competition for the radio talent contest, "Gateway to Hollywood." As the female winner, she went to Hollywood to compete for the national title, which she also won and which carried as first prize a one-year contract with a movie studio. It was at this point that "Josephine Owaissa Cottle" (less than marquee-worthy) became "Gale Storm" (the preordained screen name for the contest winner). Signed by RKO, she appeared in only two "B" films, including her debut in Tom Brown's School Days (1940), before being dropped by the studio, but she was established enough-and willing-to take work at lesser studios, such as Monogram and Universal, which starred her in a series of low-budget teen comedies, Westerns (she starred in three films with Roy Rogers), and films noire. Arguably the best of these are It Happened on Fifth Avenue (1947), The Dude Goes West (1948), and The Underworld Story (1950). At this point, television was rapidly becoming the media darling, and Storm readily saw its potential, while other "movie stars" were looking down on the upstart electronic entertainment form. She was first cast in My Little Margie , originally intended as a summer replacement for I Love Lucy but which proved so popular that it was given a time slot in the regular schedule and ran on NBC and CBS for 126 episodes from 1952 to 1955. A stint as hostess of the NBC Comedy Hour in 1956 led to a second sitcom, Oh! Susanna-The Gale Storm Show , which ran for 143 episodes from 1956 to 1960. Storm also made regular guest appearances on other television shows during the 1950s and 1960s. In the midst of her television activity, Storm moved-or slipped-into yet a third career, as a recording artist. An appearance on NBC's Colgate Comedy Hour brought her to the attention of Randy Wood, president of Dot Records, who called her and immediately offered her a recording contract. Her first release on Dot, "I Hear You Knockin'," reached Number 2 on Billboard in 1955 and sold more than a million copies, followed by covers of such songs as Dean Martin's "Memories Are Made of This" and Frankie Lymon's "Why Do Fools Fall in Love." Storm's version of "Dark Moon" went to Number 4 in 1957. Her covers often charted higher than the originals. Simultaneously, she developed a dinner theater act, headlining in Las Vegas, and starred in the touring companies of such musicals as South Pacific , The Unsinkable Molly Brown , and Cactus Flower . In the 1970s Storm suffered a severe addiction to alcohol but fully recovered and later lectured widely to stress that the condition was not a weakness but a disease. Her work in this area served to remove the stigma of alcoholism, especially where women were its victims. She chronicled her stuggles with the disease in her autobiography I Ain't Down Yet: The Autobiography of My Little Margie , published in 1981. She was married and widowed twice. Her first husband was Lee Bonnell (1918-1986), whom she met when they were the male-female co-winners of the "Gateway to Hollywood" contest. They married on September 28, 1941, in Houston. Bonnell's film career (billing him as "Terry Belmont") went nowhere, but he became a succes

Tsha Handbook →

Fort St. Louis - 1689 Massacre and Spanish Discovery

1689

In late January or early February 1689, the Karankawa attacked the dwindling remnants of Fort St. Louis. Fewer than 25 colonists remained alive at the fort by then; the warriors killed the adults and spared five children — the Talon siblings and a young boy named Eustache Bréman. The children were taken into Karankawa families. Roughly two months later, on April 22, 1689, a Spanish expedition led by Alonso de León arrived at the site after months of searching for the rumored French colony that had alarmed the Spanish crown. De León found three smashed corpses outside the burned palisade and the fort itself looted but not destroyed. The Spanish recovered the surviving Talon children from the Karankawa over the next two years; one of the boys, Pierre Talon, eventually served as an interpreter on later Spanish and French expeditions. The discovery of Fort St. Louis convinced Spain that East Texas needed permanent missions, and within months the first Spanish mission in East Texas was founded among the Hasinai Caddo.

Bloomington, TX

1906

Bloomington, the second principal city in Victoria County, is on State Highway 185 in a major oilfield fifteen miles southeast of Victoria. The town was established as a station on the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico Railway (built in 1906) and laid out in 1910 by developers Burton, Wharton, and Wilson. The site was named for Bloomington, Illinois, the original home of many of the first settlers. The post office was established in 1907. When the railway completed a branch from Victoria to Port O'Connor in 1912, Bloomington became an important crossroads. The next year the town was incorporated, and its population grew to 600 by 1925. The corporation was dissolved in 1929 to enable the county to build a road through the site from Placedo to Victoria. The discovery of oil in April 1947 added to the area's rich agricultural and ranching assets, primarily the Patrick H. Welder and Traylor estate properties. The community's population reached 1,756 in 1960. The number of businesses declined, however, from thirty-five to nineteen as the divided highway afforded easy access to Victoria. The Bloomington Independent School District, founded in 1919, originated from the rural school that was first held in a lumberyard there in 1908. The district covers 111 square miles, takes in the Placedo and Dacosta areas, and in 1986 was the only system in Victoria County operating its own buses. Though Bloomington's population declined slightly during the 1970s, the 1980 census recorded 1,840 residents there. Many worked at the nearby Dupont and Union Carbide plants, which were built in the early 1950s and contributed significantly to the area's growth. Eight churches and five businesses were listed at the community in 1984. The population in 1990 was 1,888, and in 2000 it grew to 2,562.

Tsha Handbook →

Shillerville Cemetery

1897

The community of Shillerville began when several Czechosovakian families came to this area in 1894. Among the first settlers was Jan Shiller, for whom the farm community was named. The first burial, that of Rosalie Balcar Jirasek, took place in 1897 on land given by Josef Lesikar and wife, Terezie Marek Lesikar. The graveyard was originally known as the Lesikar or Bohemian Burial ground. Additional land was donated in 1954 which increased the size of the cemetery to one acre. Some of the early grave markers are inscribed in Czech. (1986)

Historical Marker → · 9.0 mi away

Things to Do in Bloomington

quirky 15.0 mi away
Easter Island Heads

Three 13-foot moai replicas weighing seven tons each stand in a pasture on the northeast side of the Loop 463 Zac Lentz Parkway access road built by Victoria…

Everything Near Bloomington

290 stories, landmarks & places within ~20 miles — the nearest 200 are listed here — the same local lore RoadyGoat plays as you drive through.

  • Cottle, Josephine Owaissa [Gale Storm] · Tsha Handbook

    Pert, vivacious Gale Storm, movie actress, television star, recording artist, and one of America's minor heartthrobs in the 1950s and 1960s, was born Josephine Owaissa Cottle on April 5, 1922, in the South Texas town of…

  • Bloomington, TX · Tsha Handbook

    Bloomington, the second principal city in Victoria County, is on State Highway 185 in a major oilfield fifteen miles southeast of Victoria. The town was established as a station on the St. Louis, Brownsville and Mexico…

  • Fort St. Louis - La Salle's Texas Colony · 1.4 mi · Historical Event

    In the spring of 1685, René-Robert Cavelier, Sieur de La Salle, established Fort St. Louis on a bluff above Garcitas Creek in what is now Victoria County. He had sailed from France with four ships and roughly 300…

  • Fort St. Louis - 1689 Massacre and Spanish Discovery · 1.4 mi · Historical Event

    In late January or early February 1689, the Karankawa attacked the dwindling remnants of Fort St. Louis. Fewer than 25 colonists remained alive at the fort by then; the warriors killed the adults and spared five…

  • Placedo, TX · 5.3 mi

    Placedo, Texas, has a rich history that dates back to the Republic of Texas era. The community is named after Plácido Benavides, a key figure in the Texas Revolution who established a ranch in the area during the 1830s.…

  • Placedo, TX · 5.4 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, heading southeast of Victoria on U.S. Highway 87. You're passing through Placedo, a town with a surprising early claim to fame. Back in 1910, when the town was officially platted,…

  • Shillerville Cemetery · 9.0 mi · Historical Marker

    The community of Shillerville began when several Czechosovakian families came to this area in 1894. Among the first settlers was Jan Shiller, for whom the farm community was named. The first burial, that of Rosalie…

  • McFaddin Mercantile · 9.5 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through McFaddin, a town that sprung up thanks to the railroad around 1900. The St. Louis, Brownsville, and Mexico Railroad pushed a line through the McFaddin Ranch, and suddenly, this spot wasn't just…

  • McFaddin Post Office · 9.5 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through what used to be McFaddin, a small Texas town that sprung up around the railroad. In 1907, a post office opened in a general store, serving this growing community. It moved a couple of times,…

  • Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church · 9.5 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past Infant Jesus of Prague Catholic Church in McFaddin. Built in 1916 through the generosity of James A. and A. M. McFaddin, this redwood church building originally served as a mission for workers on the…

  • Kamey Community · 9.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through the Kamey Community, established by the McKamey family starting around 1905. John William McKamey and his brother bought land here, and by 1912, John and his wife Maude moved their family to raise…

  • Green Lake · 10.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of Green Lake, a community that bloomed and faded in Calhoun County. Wealthy planters arrived from Kentucky around 1849, building grand homes and cotton plantations, bringing their families…

Show all 200 nearby places
  • La Salle's Texas Settlement · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, near the coast, where in the summer of 1685, French explorer Robert La Salle established a settlement. He thought he was near the Mississippi River, but he was way off course,…

  • Coleto Creek · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, near the Goliad County line, and right here is Coleto Creek. It might look peaceful now, but back in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1836</say-as>, this was the site of a…

  • De Leon, Silvestre · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, near the site of old Guadalupe Victoria, a town co-founded by Silvestre De León. Born in 1802, De León was a key merchant and leader in his family's colony. He supported the Texas…

  • Garcitas Creek · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County right now, near Garcitas Creek. This waterway might be the very spot where French explorer La Salle landed and built Fort St. Louis way back in 1685. Imagine that! The Spanish…

  • Keeran, John Newbanks · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, a land shaped by cattle kings. Right here, John Newbanks Keeran, a man who'd already made a fortune in California gold and ranching, arrived in 1867. He bought a massive tract of…

  • Nuestra Señora de Loreto de la Bahia Presidio · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, near where a crucial Spanish outpost once stood: Nuestra Señora de Loreto Presidio, better known as La Bahía. It was established in 1721, right on the heels of a failed French…

  • Original Mission Refugio · 10.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of Mission Refugio, the last Spanish mission built in Texas. In 1791, priests Manuel de Silva and Joseph Francisco Mariano Garza started this mission to spread Christianity and claim land…

  • Carlos Rancho, TX · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    Carlos Rancho was a Mexican village on the north side of the San Antonio River in what is now Victoria County. It was located at Carlos Crossing, about twelve miles below Goliad on the old road from Victoria to Nuestra…

  • Linnville Raid of 1840 · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    The sacking of Victoria and Linnville in August 1840 in what was then Victoria County was the strategic object of a great Comanche raid in 1840, the most terrifying of all Comanche raids in Southeast Texas. The attack…

  • Foster Army Air Field · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving near Victoria, Texas, where you're passing over the site of Foster Army Air Field. This advanced flying school for fighter pilots was established in the summer of 1941, thanks to a local funding campaign…

  • Llanos-Cárdenas Expedition · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through what is now Victoria County, but back in 1690, this was the site of a French settlement built by La Salle. Spain was nervous about it, so they sent an expedition led by Francisco de Llanos and…

  • Marcado Creek · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, not far from the airport, and right here is Marcado Creek. This seemingly quiet stream was the site of a significant moment in Texas frontier history. Following the devastating…

  • McHenry, John · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through what was once the wild frontier of Texas, and the name John McHenry might ring a bell if you're a fan of early Texas history. Born in Ireland, McHenry saw action in the Battle of New Orleans in…

  • Mission Valley, TX (Victoria County) · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Mission Valley, the oldest community in Victoria County. Right here, in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1726</say-as>, Franciscan missionaries relocated their mission and presidio. For…

  • Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga Mission · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, Texas, where one of the earliest Spanish missions, Nuestra Señora del Espíritu Santo de Zúñiga, was established way back in 1722. Commonly called La Bahía, this mission was tasked…

  • Onderdonk, Gilbert · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, Texas, a region now famous for its fruit. But it wasn't always so. Back in the 1850s, it was widely believed that you couldn't grow fruit here. That all changed thanks to Gilbert…

  • Stryker, John · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through South Texas, and right here, you're passing through land that was once transformed by a single crop. In 1830, John Stryker and his partner arrived in Matamoros with a new kind of cotton seed and a…

  • Anaqua, TX · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    Anaqua, possibly the first site in Texas to receive a name, is on the San Antonio River twenty miles south of Victoria in Victoria County. It is described by Álvar Núñez Cabeza de Vaca , as the habitat of the "Iguaces"…

  • Dacosta, TX · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    DaCosta, on U.S. Highway 87 ten miles from Victoria in southeastern Victoria County, was established in 1860 when the San Antonio and Mexican Gulf Railway completed its route from Victoria to Port Lavaca. The railroad…

  • Kemper City, TX · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    Kemper City is just west of U.S. Highway 77 twelve miles from Victoria in southwestern Victoria County. The town is named for Capt. John Frederick Kemper, who developed the original site, Kemper's Bluff, as a trading…

  • Rose, John Washington · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, a land once shaped by figures like John Washington Rose. Arriving in Texas around 1839, he quickly rose to prominence, serving as chief justice of Victoria and later representing…

  • McFaddin, TX · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    McFaddin is near the San Antonio River two miles east of U.S. Highway 77 and eighteen miles southwest of Victoria in Victoria County. It was named for Capt. James A. McFaddin , a Civil War veteran and prominent Refugio…

  • Phelps, Truman · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through what was once Anaqua, Texas, a community on the San Antonio River, about twenty miles south of Victoria. This was the home of Truman Phelps, a lawyer who arrived in Texas in 1852. He settled here…

  • Coletoville, TX · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    Coletoville is near Coleto Creek Reservoir ten miles west of Victoria in Victoria County. The site was known in its early days as Steiner's Settlement, after Carl Steiner, who arrived from Germany in 1850. It took its…

  • Fordtran, TX · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    Fordtran, just west of U.S. Highway 77 and twenty miles north of Victoria in Victoria County, was named for Henry Fordtran, a Galveston real estate agent responsible for bringing settlers to the site from Tennessee and…

  • Raisin, TX · 10.9 mi · Tsha Handbook

    Raisin, on U.S. Highway 59 eight miles southwest of Victoria in Victoria County, was established in 1889 as a stop on the Gulf, Western Texas and Pacific Railway line from Victoria to Goliad and Beeville. The railway…

  • Johnson, Moses, M.D. · 11.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past Port Lavaca, a town that was home to Dr. Moses Johnson. Born in Virginia in 1808, he came to Texas around 1837, settling here before moving to Austin. In the Republic's capital, he served as…

  • Moses Johnson, M.D. · 11.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Port Lavaca, a town that welcomed Dr. Moses Johnson around 1837. Originally from Virginia and educated up north, he moved here from Illinois. Later, in 1840, he headed to Austin, where he'd become…

  • Calhoun County · 11.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Calhoun County, Texas. This county was formed in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1846</say-as>, carved out of Victoria, Jackson, and Matagorda Counties. It's named in honor of John Caldwell…

  • F.W. Gross High School · 11.3 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here is the site of a school that played a vital role in educating African American children for nearly a century. Education for Black students began here as early as 1868,…

  • Cotton Gins of Calhoun County · 11.3 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Calhoun County, where cotton became king in the late 1800s. The Michot brothers built the first major gin near Long Mott in the 1880s, using a new 'system ginning' process. By the 1940s, the…

  • Goldman Ginnery · 11.4 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here is the site of the Goldman Ginnery. Adolph Goldman, a German immigrant who arrived in Texas in 1859, built this cotton gin operation in the late 1880s. By 1890, he…

  • The Peter Henry Fagan House · 11.5 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of the Peter Henry Fagan House, a place with roots stretching back to the Texas Revolution. Nicholas Fagan arrived in Texas in 1829 and fought for independence. His son, Peter Henry, served…

  • Palestine Missionary Baptist Church · 11.6 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of Victoria's first Black Baptist church. Twenty-one former slaves gathered here on June 27, 1868, to form the First Colored Baptist Church. Renamed Palestine Missionary Baptist just months…

  • Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, Site of · 11.6 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here stood the Southern Pacific Railroad Depot, a real hub of activity. The railroad first arrived in Victoria around 1860, but its big impact came after the Civil War. By…

  • Regan House · 11.7 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of the Regan House, a grand example of Italianate Victorian architecture. Dominick Regan, an Irish immigrant and Civil War veteran, was a successful merchant who expanded his businesses…

  • Webster Chapel United Methodist Church · 11.7 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and just ahead is Webster Chapel United Methodist Church. This fellowship was organized right after the Civil War, in 1871, to serve the newly freed slaves in the area. Many of its first…

  • Williams, B.F., House · 11.7 mi · Historical Marker

    You're cruising through Victoria, and to your right stands the home of Benjamin F. Williams, built in 1909. Williams was a businessman, mayor, and even a state legislator. Local architect Jules Leffland designed this…

  • Thurmond Building · 11.8 mi · Historical Marker

    As you drive through Victoria, look for the Thurmond Building, a landmark from 1898. C.L. Thurmond, Jr. built this place as a general store and home, right on Bridge Street when it was the heart of Victoria's commerce.…

  • Power Home · 11.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Power Home, built in 1894 for Edward Power. Notice its distinctive columns, wide porches, and detailed wood trim. The house was gifted to patriotic organizations in 1960 by Mrs. James Power.

  • Fossati's Delicatessen · 11.9 mi · Scraped Hmdb

    Pull over for a taste of history at Fossati's, the oldest deli in Texas! Italian immigrant Fraschio "Frank" Napoleon Fossati opened this place back in 1882. Fossati's started in a different location, moving around a bit…

  • Guadalupe River · 11.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving along the Guadalupe River, a waterway with a rich history. Spanish explorer Alonso de Leon first laid eyes on this area way back on April 14, 1689, naming it for Mexico's patron saint, Our Lady of…

  • The Victoria Advocate · 11.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here is the birthplace of a Texas institution: The Victoria Advocate. This isn't just any old paper; it's the second oldest newspaper still running in the entire state! It…

  • Saint Mary's Catholic Church · 11.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here is Saint Mary's Catholic Church. This is the third building this congregation has used as a church since settlers first arrived in Victoria in 1824. The current church you…

  • Pela House · 11.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Pela House, a fascinating blend of architectural styles. Built in 1884, it sports a classic Greek Revival design with modern Victorian touches like its unique porch railings. This striking home…

  • Victoria Advocate · 11.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the home of the Victoria Advocate, the second oldest newspaper still publishing in Texas! It was established way back on May 8, 1846, by Thomas Sterne and John D. Logan. Over the years, its editors…

  • Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church · 11.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of Victoria's first Lutheran congregation, organized way back in 1851. German immigrants here held services in their homes starting in the 1840s. For decades, all services were in German,…

  • Victoria's First Church, Site of · 11.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of Victoria's very first church, established soon after the town's founder, Martin De Leon, arrived in 1824. It was later restored by the first Catholic Bishop of Texas, John Mary Odin, and…

  • Victoria County Monument · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria County, a place with deep roots in Texas history. Long before Texas was even a concept, this land was home to the Karankawa Indians. Imagine Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca, the first European…

  • De Leon, Martin, Home of · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, the town established by Martín De León. Born in Mexico in 1765, he was a Spanish Army captain by 1790, known for his bravery in Indian fighting. He received grants to bring over 190…

  • In Memory of Edward Conrad · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here we remember Edward Conrad. Born in Pennsylvania, he came to Texas in 1835 and was a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 2nd, 1836. Sadly, he died here…

  • This Marker Faces the Site_John Joseph Linn · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of John Joseph Linn's home in Victoria. Born in Ireland in 1798, Linn was a merchant, soldier, statesman, and historian. He served as Victoria's last alcalde and first mayor, and was a…

  • Victoria County · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria County, a place with a history as deep as Texas itself. Long before it was a county, it was a brief stop for Cabeza de Vaca in the 1530s and La Salle in the 1680s. This land became the…

  • Memorial Square · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here is Memorial Square, a place with a history as layered as the soil beneath it. Laid out in 1824 by town founder Martin de Leon, this was originally Victoria's oldest public…

  • Pridham, Peter Underhay · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and just ahead is the final resting place of Peter Underhay Pridham. Born across the Atlantic on the Isle of Guernsey, Pridham came to Texas in 1834, settling near the San Jacinto River.…

  • Round Top House, Site of · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of the Round Top House, built before 1836 by Placido Benavides. This house was known as The Citadel of Victoria. During the Comanche raid of 1840, it served as a place of refuge for the…

  • One of Victoria's oldest storefronts · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past Fossati's Delicatessen. In 1882, Italian immigrant Fraschio ("Frank") N. Fossati (1852-1939) opened his first delicatesssen in Victoria at Juan Linn and Main streets. He had this building constructed…

  • Fossati's Delicatessen · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    In 1882, Italian immigrant Fraschio ("Frank") N. Fossati (1852-1939) opened his first delicatesssen in Victoria at Juan Linn and Main streets. He had this building constructed in 1895 and moved the business to this…

  • Hauschild Opera House · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here, you're passing the site of the Hauschild Opera House. Opened in 1894 by German immigrant George Herman Hauschild, this place was the heart of entertainment for decades.…

  • Mount Salem American Baptist Church · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of Mount Salem American Baptist Church. Imagine this congregation, founded in 1872 in Indianola. Two devastating hurricanes in 1875 and 1886 wiped out their church building. But the spirit…

  • Federal Building · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the grand old Federal Building in Victoria, a real gem from 1911. Designed in the Italian Renaissance Revival style, it first housed the U.S. Post Office and Federal Courthouse. Imagine the bustling…

  • Lorenzo Dow Heaton Home · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Lorenzo Dow Heaton House, a survivor from the 1870s. Built starting in 1875, it was the first large home on Market Square, originally featuring hand-hewn lumber and square nails. The Heaton…

  • Joe F. and Amelia Jecker House · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Joe F. and Amelia Jecker House, a landmark in Victoria. Originally built by Dr. James B.P. January by 1860, it was later remodeled by the Jecker family in 1904. Noted architect Jules C. Leffland…

  • Old L.D. Heaton Home · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Old L.D. Heaton Home, built way back in 1887. This place sports a Southern Colonial design, with tall porch pillars and a classic Georgian entrance. The original owner was part of a prominent…

  • Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church · 12.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Church in Victoria. In 1872, Father Jean Baptiste Teitien saw the need for a separate parish for the area's German-speaking community. He traveled to Germany…

  • Victoria County · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria County, the birthplace of Texas's first European settlement! Back in 1685, French explorer La Salle landed here and built Fort St. Louis. But the Spanish weren't far behind, establishing…

  • Brownson's Bank · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here you're passing the site of the very first bank in town. John Milton Brownson, a Confederate veteran, opened Brownson's Bank in 1867. It was a frame building on Main…

  • O'Connor-Proctor Building · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the O'Connor-Proctor Building, a Romanesque Revival beauty built back in 1895. Designed by architect Paul Helwig, it first housed the offices of rancher Thomas M. O'Connor, a major businessman in the…

  • Victoria County, C.S.A. · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, a vital hub for the Confederacy during the Civil War. This county was a key stop on the cotton road, sending valuable crops to Mexico in exchange for guns, medicine, and other essential…

  • Rose, Victor M. · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, where Victor M. Rose lived a life shaped by war and words. Born in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1842</say-as>, he left college to fight for the Confederacy in the Civil War.…

  • Victoria County Courthouse, Former · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and look to your right - you're passing the former Victoria County Courthouse! This Romanesque Revival beauty was built in the early 1890s. Architect J. Riely Gordon, famous for his…

  • Case, Viola · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and you're passing the site of a remarkable educator and community leader, Viola Case. Born in Virginia in 1821, she arrived in Victoria in 1848 and took over her husband's female…

  • De Leon Plaza · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here is De Leon Plaza, originally laid out by the founder of the city himself, Martin De Leon. <break time="400ms"/> Back in the early 1830s, his son-in-law surveyed this space…

  • Victoria · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past Victoria, a city founded way back in 1824 by Martin de Leon. It was meant to be Mexico's buffer against the Comanches. This place was active in the Texas War for Independence in 1836 and supported…

  • Band Stand · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past Victoria's historic bandstand, a hub for public life for over a century. Built before 1885, it originally hosted concerts and gatherings on Constitution Street. In 1923, it was moved to the center of…

  • Mitchell School · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here is the site of the Mitchell School. Back in 1898, citizens voted to create an independent school district, planning eight schools—four for Anglos and four for African…

  • Mundt Place · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of what was once the Continental Hotel, built way back in 1871. It served travelers for over twenty years before being bought by Professor O.E.H. Mundt. He transformed it into a classroom…

  • Victoria County Honor Roll · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas. This marker, the Victoria County Honor Roll, remembers the local men who made the supreme sacrifice in the Great War. Over 30 names are listed here – men like Overton Abshier,…

  • Woodhouse Home · 12.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're cruising through Victoria, and you might catch a glimpse of this historic Queen Anne home, built in 1910. It belonged to Harry G. Woodhouse, a former railroad conductor who settled here, became a successful…

  • Home County of William Pinckney McLean · 12.2 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Victoria home of William Pinckney McLean, a lawyer who became a key player in shaping Texas industry. He served in the state legislature and U.S. Congress before being appointed to the brand new…

  • Levi, Abraham, House · 12.2 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the former home of Abraham Levi, a banker and merchant who owned this grand house before and during the Civil War. Built before the war, it boasted eight fireplaces and ten rooms. But in <say-as…

  • Robert H. and Pauline Clark House · 12.2 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and to your right, you might see the Robert H. and Pauline Clark House, built in 1877. Robert Clark, a Mexican War veteran who was severely wounded, first made his fortune in business…

  • First United Methodist Church · 12.2 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and you're passing the site of the very first Protestant church in town. When Victoria was settled way back in 1824, Texas was part of Mexico, and there were no Protestant churches…

  • McNamara House · 12.2 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the McNamara House, a beautiful example of Rural Victorian Gothic architecture right here in Victoria. It was built in the 1870s by W.J. McNamara, a prominent local businessman who dealt in cotton,…

  • First English Evangelical Lutheran Church · 12.2 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of Victoria's first English Evangelical Lutheran Church. German immigrants here first met in homes as early as 1846. The congregation officially organized with 38 members on October 12,…

  • Victoria, TX · 12.3 mi

    In 2017, the Victoria Islamic Center mosque was destroyed by an arson attack. A 25-year-old Victoria man was convicted of the crime and sentenced to prison. The incident was documented in a film titled 'A Town Called…

  • The Great Raid Strikes Victoria · 12.3 mi

    On the afternoon of August 6, 1840, Victoria looked up and found the prairie full of riders. Buffalo Hump had brought four to five hundred Penateka Comanche warriors down off the Edwards Plateau, with Kiowa allies and a…

  • McFaddin, James A., Home · 12.3 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the home of James A. McFaddin, built in 1890, a fine example of Victorian architecture. But McFaddin was more than just a homeowner. He was a pioneer stockman who moved to Victoria County in 1876. He…

  • Nicholas Fagan · 12.3 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Refugio County, past the site of a man named Nicholas Fagan. He arrived in Texas back in 1829, settling in the Powers Colony. Fagan fought as a private in Fraser's Refugio Company during the…

  • Proctor House · 12.3 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and you might catch a glimpse of this beautiful Colonial Revival home. Built around 1900 for Venable Bland Proctor, a local lawyer, this house was a landmark for his family. Proctor…

  • Clark Cemetery · 12.3 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Clark Cemetery, the last vestige of the old Chocolate Community. Settled by families like the Clarks and Hatches in the mid-1800s, they farmed and raised cattle. John Clark donated this land for…

  • First Baptist Church of Victoria · 12.3 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past First Baptist Church of Victoria. On May 15, 1852, eight men and women, including a slave, joined together to organize the First Baptist Church of Victoria. That evening they elected the Rev. D.B.…

  • A Uniquely Mexican Colony · 12.4 mi

    When you think of Texas's early settlers, you might picture Anglo pioneers from Tennessee or Alabama. But Victoria's story is different. It was founded in 1824 by Martín De León, and his was the only colony in Texas…

  • The Canal That Built a Port · 12.4 mi

    How does an inland city, some thirty-five miles from the nearest bay, become a major shipping port? The answer is a massive feat of engineering: the Victoria Barge Canal. For decades, city leaders dreamed of a direct…

  • The Great Comanche Raid of 1840 · 12.4 mi

    In the summer of 1840, Victoria was a small, vulnerable outpost on the Texas frontier, and that August it lived through one of the most terrifying events in its history. A Comanche war party — four to five hundred…

  • The Cattle Capital of Texas · 12.4 mi

    After the Civil War, Victoria found its fortune in cattle. The surrounding prairies were thick with longhorns, and as the nation demanded beef, Victoria became the place to get it. By 1870 the county counted 61,651 head…

  • Henderson House · 12.4 mi · Historical Marker

    As you drive through Victoria, look for the stately Classical Revival home at 402 North Bridge Street. This wasn't just any house; it was built for John W. Henderson, a prominent businessman who made his fortune in…

  • T-C Ranch House · 12.5 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the historic T-C Ranch House, home of Thomas O'Connor. He was an orphan from Ireland who came to Texas with his uncle, James Power. O'Connor was a signer of the Goliad Declaration of Independence in…

  • Proctor-Vandenberge House · 12.5 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Proctor-Vandenberge House, a landmark with a dramatic past. Its builder, Hamilton Ledbetter, fought off a Comanche raid in 1840 while his family escaped. Later owners, including a Texas Supreme…

  • Robert L. Dabney House · 12.6 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Robert L. Dabney House, built in 1897 in the late Victorian style. This was home to Reverend Dabney, a Presbyterian theologian and author who served as Confederate General Stonewall Jackson's…

  • Phillips-Sale House · 12.6 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Phillips-Sale House, built in 1851 for Alexander Hamilton Phillips, a lawyer and Texas Republic politician. This brick home, made by slaves, became a social hub where Sam Houston himself gave a…

  • Fleming-Welder House · 12.6 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Fleming-Welder House in Victoria. Built around 1911 for rancher Edward Fleming, this home saw several owners. The most significant changes came when Eliza Hughes Welder bought it in 1936. She…

  • Fox, Jacob, House · 12.6 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, past the former home of Jacob Fox. Fox was a prominent businessman and community leader, a native of Alsace who came to Texas and established a cotton gin and grist mill right here on…

  • Hill-O'Connor-Howard House · 12.6 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here is a glimpse into the city's past social life. This grand home was built in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1898</say-as> for attorney Joe L. Hill. But just a few…

  • J. Meredith Tatton House · 12.6 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the home of J. Meredith Tatton, a conservationist, composer, cattleman, and writer who came to Texas from England in 1930. Noted architect John F. Staub designed this colonial revival home for Tatton…

  • Lowe, Alexander, House · 12.7 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the 1883 home of Alexander Lowe, a man who wore many hats in Victoria. He fought in the Mexican War, served as mayor, and was a prominent businessman. Lowe was also a pioneer in refrigerated…

  • De Leon, Agapito · 12.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site associated with Agapito De Leon, born right here in Texas in 1808. He was the fourth son of Don Martin De Leon, the founder of this very colony and the city of Victoria. Agapito was a…

  • De Leon, Felix · 12.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of a man who lived a wild life right here in Texas. Felix de Leon, born in Texas in 1806, was the third son of Martin de Leon, the founder of this very colony. As a young man, around 1822,…

  • De Leon, Fernando · 12.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site associated with Fernando De Leon, a key figure in the early days of Texas. Born in Mexico around 1798, he came to Texas with his parents about 1800, helping them establish the De Leon Colony…

  • De Leon, Don Martin · 12.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of Victoria, founded by Don Martin De Leon. Born in Mexico in 1765, De Leon was a Spanish cavalier and Indian fighter. He became the first cattle baron of Texas, earning a colonial grant…

  • De Leon, Dona Patricia De La Garza · 12.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of a true Texas pioneer woman, Dona Patricia De La Garza De Leon. She arrived here from Mexico around 1800, leaving her home to join her husband, Don Martin de Leon, as he pursued a Spanish…

  • De Leon, Silvestre · 12.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Victoria area, the stomping grounds of Silvestre de Leon. Born in 1802, he was the son of Martin de Leon, the founder of this very colony and city. Silvestre was more than just a founder's son;…

  • Evergreen Cemetery of Victoria · 12.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and we're passing the Evergreen Cemetery. This isn't just any graveyard; it's the first community cemetery in town. Back in the day, folks preferred burying loved ones at home, even…

  • Victoria Pumping Station · 12.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Victoria Pumping Station, a vital piece of the city's early infrastructure. In the 1880s, William Wheeler, an Englishman, arrived in Texas to install waterworks across the state. He landed in…

  • Hatch, Sylvanus · 12.8 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the resting place of Sylvanus Hatch, a man who lived an incredibly long life for his time. Born way back in Massachusetts in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1788</say-as>, he saw nearly a…

  • Wood, John Howland · 12.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and it's time to talk about John Howland Wood. Born up in New York, Wood ended up in Texas in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1836</say-as>, fighting for Texas independence. After…

  • Hatch Cemetery · 12.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past Hatch Cemetery, a resting place for a pioneering Texas family. Captain Sylvanus Hatch, a War of 1812 veteran, established this cemetery in 1850 after his wife died of cholera while tending to sick…

  • Victor Marion Rose · 12.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the birthplace of Victor Marion Rose, a true Renaissance man of Victoria. Born right here on January 1st, <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1844</say-as>, Rose became a poet, editor, historian,…

  • January, Captain James P. · 12.9 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past Victoria, and heading into the heart of Texas history. Remember Captain James P. January? He wasn't just a soldier; he was the Assistant Surgeon and later the Surgeon for the Republic of Texas!…

  • Van Bibber, John · 13.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of a true Texas Revolution survivor! John Van Bibber was right in the thick of it, serving in the fight for independence. But his story gets really dramatic in <say-as interpret-as="date"…

  • Cunningham, Abel Seymour · 13.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and just off the road here is a marker for Abel Seymour Cunningham. He wasn't just any soldier; Cunningham fought in the Texas War for Independence, earning his stripes in the fight for…

  • Stapp, Darwin M. · 13.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the site of a key figure in the Texas War for Independence, Darwin M. Stapp. He was right here, participating in the Siege of Bexar back in 1835. This pivotal event helped secure Texas's path to…

  • Weisiger, Sidney Roper · 13.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the birthplace of Sidney Roper Weisiger, a man who dedicated his later years to the very history you're passing through. Born in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1906</say-as> to a pioneer…

  • Weisiger, Robert S. · 13.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Victoria area, where Robert S. Weisiger spent a remarkable career in law enforcement. He was just 19 when he became a Deputy Sheriff, and he went on to serve as County Sheriff for a total of 20…

  • First Presbyterian Church · 13.0 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and you're passing the site of the First Presbyterian Church. Organized way back on October 2nd, 1841, by Reverend William C. Blair and eight charter members, this congregation is one of…

  • Gullett, Newton Cannon · 13.1 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Refugio County, where right here, Newton Cannon Gullett transformed this coastal plain into Tivoli Ranch. He was a Confederate captain, a successful merchant, and by 1876, he built the very first…

  • Smith, William Robert · 13.1 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here is where we remember William Robert Smith. Smith was a Texas Ranger from 1927 to 1933, serving under Captains Sterling, Wright, and Mace. His duties were anything but…

  • Tivoli, TX · 13.1 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Refugio County, near the mouth of the Guadalupe River, and you're passing through Tivoli. This town owes its existence to Preston R. Austin, a rancher and entrepreneur who founded it in 1907 on…

  • Callender Home · 13.2 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the Callender Home, a place with a surprising journey. It started life not here, but miles away as a hunting lodge on Green Lake, built from hand-hewn pine lumber all the way from New York! Then, in…

  • Six Mile Cemetery · 13.2 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past Six Mile Cemetery, the final resting place for many Czech immigrants who settled this area. The first known grave here belongs to Veranka Drgac, who died in 1897. The cemetery, originally part of the…

  • Six Mile Presbyterian Church · 13.2 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past Six Mile Presbyterian Church. Worship services in the community that became known as Six Mile began as early as 1894, when traveling ministers such as the Rev. Anton Motycka and the Rev. Adolf…

  • Austin, Preston Rose · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, a place that still holds a baffling mystery. Preston Rose Austin, a cotton grower and land promoter, was ruined by the infamous "Big Freeze" of 1899, which killed 40,000 cattle…

  • Benavides, Placido · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, a town that owes much of its early existence to Plácido Benavides. Arriving in Texas in 1828, he was instrumental in surveying land and issuing titles for Martín De León's colony.…

  • Bianchi, Joe · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, a town that became famous for a unique piece of cowboy gear: the 'bottle-opener' spur. Right here, Joe Bianchi, an Italian immigrant blacksmith, didn't invent the spur, but he…

  • Borland, Margaret Heffernan · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, the heart of cattle country, and right here is the story of Margaret Heffernan Borland. Born in Ireland, she came to Texas as a child and became a formidable rancher. After being…

  • Carbajal, José María Jesus · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, the town laid out by José María Jesús Carbajal. He wasn't just a surveyor; Carbajal was a soldier and a leader who fought for Texas and later for Mexican independence. After studying in…

  • Conrad, Edward · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving near Victoria, and right here, in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1836</say-as>, a printer from Philadelphia named Edward Conrad made history. He arrived in Texas just months before, but quickly…

  • De Leon, Patricia de la Garza · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, a town with a founding story unlike any other in Texas. Right here, in 1824, Patricia de la Garza De León and her husband Martín established Guadalupe Victoria, the only predominantly…

  • Dodd, David Owen · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, the birthplace of David Owen Dodd, a young man who became a teenage Civil War spy. Born in 1847, Dodd's life took a dramatic turn in 1863. While trying to return to Confederate…

  • Ellis, William Henry · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, the birthplace of William Henry Ellis. Born in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1864</say-as> to recently freed slaves, Ellis would later reinvent himself, crafting a new…

  • Fisher, Rebecca Jane Gilleland · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through what was once Refugio County, and right here, in 1840, a young girl named Rebecca Gilleland experienced a brutal Comanche attack. Her parents were killed, and Rebecca, just nine years old, was…

  • Hill, Benjamin F. · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, a town that saw a brutal act of violence during Reconstruction. Right here, in 1866, Benjamin F. Hill, a veteran of the Republic of Texas and Confederate service, found himself in a…

  • Popeye · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, the hometown of a sailor who needs no introduction: Popeye! While Elzie Crisler Segar, Popeye's creator, was born in Illinois, he considered Victoria his "hometown" and the…

  • Rose, Preston Robinson · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, deep in the heart of South Texas. Right here, Preston Robinson Rose built Buena Vista, a plantation so big it was the largest in the county. He arrived in Texas in 1840, and by…

  • Victoria County · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, a place with roots stretching back to the very beginnings of Texas. Right here, in 1722, Spanish settlers established Mission Nuestra Señora de Loreto Presidio and Mission…

  • Wright, Margaret Theresa Robertson · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, and right here is where Margaret Theresa Robertson Wright made her mark. Arriving in Texas around 1825, she settled on a league of land on the Guadalupe River. But during the…

  • Linn, John J. · 13.3 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past the final resting place of John J. Linn, a true Texas pioneer who arrived here as an Irish immigrant. Born in Ireland in 1798, Linn became a prominent figure in Victoria. He served as a merchant,…

  • 201st Fighter Squadron, Mexican Expeditionary Air Force (The Aztec Eagles) · 13.3 mi · Historical Marker

    You're driving past Victoria, Texas, where history took flight during World War II. Mexico, after German U-boats sank its oil tankers, declared war on the Axis powers. They partnered with the U.S. to train pilots here,…

  • Adair, Christia V. Daniels · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    Christia Adair, Black civil-rights activist and suffragist, was born on October 22, 1893, in Victoria, Texas, one of four children of Hardy and Ada (Crosby) Daniels. She attended a small school in Edna, then went to…

  • Bowles, John Dudley · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, the birthplace of John Dudley Bowles, a remarkable African-American physician and educator. Born in 1905, Bowles went on to achieve incredible academic and professional success.…

  • Case, Joel Titus · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, a town that owes part of its history to Joel Titus Case. Case, a teacher and writer from Ohio, arrived in Texas in 1838. He was involved with newspapers in Houston and Galveston,…

  • Conner, Connie Yerwood · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    Right here in Victoria, Texas, you're passing through the birthplace of Connie Yerwood Conner, a true pioneer in public health. Born in 1908, she became the first Black physician appointed to the Texas Public Health…

  • De Leon's Colony · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving near Victoria, the site of Texas's only predominantly Mexican colony. In 1824, Martín De León petitioned to settle forty-one Mexican families and found a town called Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe de Jesús…

  • Hauschild Music Company · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here is the site of a groundbreaking Texas business. In 1891, George Hauschild opened his music company, initially selling instruments. But Hauschild Music soon became one of…

  • Holland, Clarence St. Elmo · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, a place that owes much of its modern development to the vision of Clarence St. Elmo Holland. Back in 1905, Holland, then president of Victoria's Business Men's Association, wasn't…

  • January, James Belvarde Pope · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Jackson County, Texas, where James Belvarde Pope January served as a physician and soldier. He arrived in Texas in 1836, initially falling ill, but returned to fight in the Texas Revolution. He…

  • Leffland, Jules Carl · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, a town with a rich architectural history thanks to Jules Carl Leffland. Born in Denmark in 1854, Leffland came to Texas in 1886, drawn by a friend from Bee County. His first work…

  • Logan, John Davis · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, a town that owes its start to a newspaper and a bit of old-fashioned rivalry. In 1845, newspaper publisher John Davis Logan packed up his press and type, moved it all the way from…

  • McCulloch, William H. · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through South Texas, maybe near Victoria or San Antonio, and you might be passing the site of a former stagecoach stop. Right here, William H. McCulloch and his partner John S. Harrison built a…

  • McFaddin, James Alfred · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, and right here is the heart of a Texas ranching empire. James Alfred McFaddin wasn't just a rancher; he was an innovator. Born in 1840, his family had been in Texas since 1821. By…

  • Mitchell, Joseph Daniel · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through what is now Victoria County, and right here, in the late 1800s, Joseph Daniel Mitchell was a rancher who became a pioneer scientist. He introduced the first blooded stock to Calhoun County and…

  • O'Connor, Dennis Martin · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through what was once the heart of a Texas cattle empire. Right here, Dennis Martin O'Connor inherited over half a million acres and a hundred thousand cattle from his father, the original 'Texas Cattle…

  • Peticolas, Alfred Brown · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, a city that owes much of its visual history to one man: Alfred Brown Peticolas. An attorney by trade, Peticolas was also a gifted artist who documented this town during the late…

  • Pierson, John Hogue · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving near Victoria, Texas, where back on August 22, 1836, a young pioneer named John Hogue Pierson faced a fierce Comanche attack. Pierson, who had already served in the Texas Rangers and fought in the…

  • Roman, Richard · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, Texas, a place that saw plenty of action during the Republic era. Right here, Richard Roman was a key player. He fought at the Battle of San Jacinto, helped win independence, and…

  • Seventh Texas Cavalry · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Texas, and right here, in the summer of 1861, the Seventh Texas Cavalry Regiment was born in Victoria. Nearly a thousand men, recruited from across the state, formed ten companies. This unit…

  • Sixth Texas Infantry · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, a town that played a key role in forming the Sixth Texas Infantry back in November of <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1861</say-as>. The ladies of Victoria, led by Elizabeth…

  • Stapp, Darwin Massey · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, a city that owes a lot to Darwin Massey Stapp. He arrived in Texas way back in 1828, just a teenager, and quickly jumped into the fight for Texas independence. Stapp fought in the Siege…

  • Thurmond, Alfred Sturgis · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, a town that was once the stomping ground of Alfred Sturgis Thurmond. Arriving in Texas in 1836, just after the Revolution, Thurmond jumped right into the fray, serving with ranger…

  • Victoria Female Academy · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, and right here is the site of what was probably the first Presbyterian school for girls in Texas. Established in 1848 by Reverend John R. Shive and his wife, Viola, the Victoria Female…

  • Welder, John James · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through South Texas, and right here, you're passing through the heart of a ranching empire built by John James Welder. Born in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="m">7</say-as>/14/1854 in San Patricio…

  • Wheeler, Jesse Obadiah · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, a town that owes a lot to Jesse Obadiah Wheeler. He arrived here in 1840, opening a mercantile store. Just months later, he was part of the fight against a Comanche raid, helping to…

  • Victoria, TX (Victoria County) · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, a city with roots stretching back to 1824. It was founded by Martín De León and named Guadalupe Victoria, in honor of Mexico's first president. This settlement quickly became important,…

  • Blair, William Cochran · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, a place that saw its share of frontier challenges. In the spring of 1840, William Cochran Blair arrived here, a Presbyterian missionary sent to minister to the Mexican population.…

  • Camp Henry E. McCulloch · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving near Victoria, Texas, right where Camp Henry E. McCulloch once stood. From September 1861 to May 1862, this was a Confederate camp of instruction, training recruits for the Sixth Texas Infantry. The…

  • Cocke, Thomas Robert · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, a town that owes its early growth in part to Dr. Thomas Cocke. In 1845, Cocke traveled from Arkansas to explore this area. Impressed, he moved his family here in 1846 and was soon…

  • Hampton, George James · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, a place that was home to George James Hampton. He was elected sheriff here in 1858, but his real story took a turn during the Civil War. Hampton joined the Texas Rangers and then…

  • Hunter, Walter David · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Texas, and right here, you're passing through the heart of a battle against one of agriculture's most feared pests. Back in 1901, entomologist Walter David Hunter arrived in Texas, tasked by the…

  • Linn, Edward Daniel · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria County, the birthplace of Edward Daniel Linn, a man who wore many hats. Born in 1848, Linn took over the Victoria Advocate newspaper after the Civil War, eventually becoming its sole…

  • Stayton, John William · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through what was once Washington County, Kentucky, but John William Stayton made his mark here in Texas. After moving to La Grange in 1856, he eventually settled in Victoria, building a remarkable legal…

  • Thurmond, Columbus Lafayette · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, a town that was home to Columbus Lafayette "Zip" Thurmond. Born in Tennessee in 1833, Thurmond arrived in Texas and quickly became a major player in Victoria's business scene. By the…

  • Welder, James Francis · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through South Texas, and right here in Victoria, you're passing through the heart of a ranching revolution. James Francis Welder, born in San Patricio County in 1863, wasn't just a cattleman; he was a…

  • Callender, William Larrabee · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    William Larrabee Callender, attorney, judge, and prominent Methodist, was born to Nathaniel and Olive Callender in Shippensburg, Pennsylvania, in 1815. Subsequently, the family lived in several locations in New York and…

  • Dudley, Charles Arthur, Jr. · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    Charles A. (Doc) Dudley, Black physician, civic leader, and civil-rights worker, son of Charles Arthur and Nancy Elizabeth Dudley, was born in Waskom, Texas, on January 10, 1894. He graduated from high school at nearby…

  • Allen, James C. · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Refugio County, Texas, where in the late 1830s, a man named James C. Allen held a prominent position. He was appointed chief justice of Refugio County in November 1837, and arrived in mid-1838.…

  • Bartholomew, Eugene Carlos · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, a town that in July of 1865 was the destination for a federal army unit. Among them was Eugene Carlos Bartholomew, a civilian employee who'd served in the Quartermaster's Division. His…

  • Johnston, Thomas J. · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, Texas, a place that saw a man named Thomas J. Johnston arrive just after secession in <say-as interpret-as="date" format="y">1861</say-as>. He'd served in the U.S. State Department, even…

  • Phillips, Alexander H. · 13.3 mi · Tsha Handbook

    You're driving through Victoria, a town that once hosted Sam Houston himself at the home of Alexander H. Phillips. Phillips was a prominent lawyer and legislator here in the mid-1800s. He served in the Republic of Texas…

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