Lake Jackson in Brazoria County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
The Brazos Canal
Photographed by Gary Estep
1. The Brazos Canal Marker
Chartered in 1841, the Brazos Canal Company was the result of local landowners' efforts to build canals to connect inland plantations to Gulf shipping ports. Construction began in 1847 on a canal, referred to locally as the "slave ditch" because it was dug by the slaves of company owners. A one-mile section, twenty-four feet wide and three feet deep, took two years to complete. The project was soon abandoned. A rival company, the Galveston and Brazos Navigation Company, completed a canal between the Brazos River and Galveston Bay in 1856.
Texas Sesquicentennial 1836-1986
Erected 1986 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 9535.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1847.
Location. 29° 3.423′ N, 95° 25.906′ W. Marker is in Lake Jackson, Texas, in Brazoria County. It is on Crepe Myrtle Street east of Beechwood Street, on the right when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Lake Jackson TX 77566, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in the Houston Metropolitan Area. It is also in the American South and on the 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, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Mammoth Lake (approx. 2 miles away); Abner Jackson Plantation (approx. 2.2 miles away); William Harris Wharton
this page online
Regarding The Brazos Canal. This section of canal was an attempt to link lower Oyster Creek with the upper section of Bastrop Bayou, thus providing a water route from Abner Jackson's plantations (Retrieve, Lake Jackson) and others via Bastrop Bay and East Galveston Bay directly to the port of Galveston, avoiding the Brazos River bar and Gulf entirely. Thus, the name is slightly misleading, although the route established via the Brazos and seaside canals did make this route less practicable, since they were able to handle larger vessels.
Also see . . . Galveston and Brazos Navigation Company entry at Handbook of Texas. (Submitted on May 6, 2021, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas.)
Photographed by Chris Kneupper
2. The Brazos Canal Marker
The canal can be seen in the background in this view to the south.
Photographed by Chris Kneupper
3. The Canal as seen to the north of the marker
Photographed by Chris Kneupper
4. The Brazos Canal Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on January 1, 2026. It was originally submitted on May 6, 2021, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas. This page has been viewed 1,355 times since then and 89 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on January 1, 2026, by Gary Estep of Anna, Texas. 2, 3, 4. submitted on May 6, 2021, by Chris Kneupper of Brazoria, Texas. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.
