Palacios in Matagorda County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Palacios Pavilions
In 1903 the Palacios townsite company arranged with the Southern Pacific Railroad to extend its line to the new city. The first train arrived on June 29, bringing prospective settlers from Midwestern states.
The company began construction of a pavilion on the South Bay in June 1904. Designed by Victoria Architect Jules Leffland, it was built on a pier extending 400 feet into the bay. Called the Pleasure Pavilion, it consisted of a central round two-story open-air pavilion with boat docks and bathers' dressing rooms extending along the pier. It quickly became the social center of the town, offering such activities as swimming, boating, dancing, skating, and basketball games.
The Pleasure Pavilion sustained hurricane damage in 1915, 1919, and 1934. Under the direction of a local seawall commission and with funding from the Federal Public Works Administration, it was razed in 1935 and replaced with a new pavilion, called the roundhouse.
The roundhouse pavilion continued to be the focal point of community activities, especially during the war year of the 1940's and the early 1950's. It was destroyed by Hurricane Carla in 1961, and eventually the city erected a smaller open-air pavilion in its place.
Erected 1991 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 3913.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Entertainment • Railroads & Streetcars • Sports. A significant historical date for this entry is June 29, 1903.
Location. 28° 41.909′ N, 96° 12.914′ W. Marker is in Palacios, Texas, in Matagorda County. Marker is at the intersection of South Bay Boulevard and 4th Street on South Bay Boulevard. The marker is located in South Bay Park at the entrance to the pier. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Palacios TX 77465, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. History of the Palacios Pavilion (here, next to this marker); Price-Farwell House (within shouting distance of this marker); Old Palacios Hotel (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); R.J. Hill Building (about 600 feet away); Cates-Price House (about 800 feet away); W.C. Williams Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); St. John’s Episcopal Church (approx. ¼ mile away); Kerry Duane Dale Memorial (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Palacios.
Credits. This page was last revised on March 20, 2021. It was originally submitted on March 18, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 259 times since then and 22 times this year. Last updated on March 20, 2021, by Brandon D Cross of Flagler Beach, Florida. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on March 19, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.