Raymondville in Willacy County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Santa Maria de Yciar, San Esteban, Espiritu Santu
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2018
1. Santa Maria de Yciar, San Esteban, Espiritu Santu Marker
In 1554 three Spanish ships heavily laden with $10 million dollars in silver and gold and 410 passengers ran aground in a stormy sea on Padre Island east of Willacy County. Karankawa cannibals murdered many of the survivors. In that same year, 35,000 pounds of treasure were salvaged, leaving 51,000 pounds of silver in the Gulf of Mexico. In 1967 to 1975 modern salvage methods recovered more treasure. For hundreds of years Dos Reales and Quatro Reales coins have washed ashore after each passing storm.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Disasters • Indigenous Peoples and Communities • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is April 9, 1554.
Location. 26° 28.904′ N, 97° 47.106′ W. Marker is in Raymondville, Texas, in Willacy County. It is at the intersection of West Hidalgo Avenue (State Highway 186) and South 5th Street, on the right when traveling east on West Hidalgo Avenue. Marker and associated mural are mounted/painted on the west wall of the building at this address. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 389 W Hidalgo Ave, Raymondville TX 78580, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in South Texas. It is also on the American Gulf Coast. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Raymondville State Bank (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Willacy County Courthouse (about
this page online
Also see . . .
1. The wrecks of Espνritu Santo, Santa Marνa and San Esteban. On April 9, 1554, a treasure fleet consisting of the ships San Andrιs, Santa Maria de Yciar, San Esteban, and Espνritu Santo left Veracruz together as a flotilla. Among other things, the ships were transporting circa 91,000 pounds of precious metals belonging to the King of Spain. On April 19, 1554, Santa Maria de Yciar, San Esteban and Espνritu Santo were wrecked off Padre Islands after encountering a sudden storm. Only San Andrιs made it through the storm, and eventually entered the harbor of Havana, Cuba with its share of the valuable cargo. (Submitted on May 31, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
2. The 1554 Wrecks. The ships almost made it to Havana before they were hit by a powerful storm. Only one of the four limped into the harbor at Havana.
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2018
2. Santa Maria de Yciar, San Esteban, Espiritu Santu Mural
3. San Esteban (1554 shipwreck). A private company, Platoro, Ltd., began to excavate the Espνritu Santo wreck in late 1967, which caused public outrage and the passage of new laws to protect wrecks on the Texan coast. The remains of San Esteban were found in 1970 and excavated in 1972–73. Many artifacts have been recovered and are held in the Corpus Christi Museum of Science and History. They include the world's oldest mariner's astrolabe with a confirmed date. (Submitted on May 31, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, May 17, 2018
3. Santa Maria de Yciar, San Esteban, Espiritu Santu Marker (wide view from West Hidalgo Avenue)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 28, 2020. It was originally submitted on May 31, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 1,512 times since then and 77 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on May 31, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.
