Palacios in Matagorda County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Shanghai Pierce's Bull Pasture
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Photographed by Dave W, January 31, 2026
1. Shanghai Pierce's Bull Pasture Marker
Abel Head "Shanghai" Pierce (1834-1900), born in Rhode Island, stowed away on a schooner headed to Indianola in 1854. He amassed 250,000 acres of ranch land in Matagorda and Wharton counties. Pierce discovered that Brahman cattle from India resisted ticks that caused cattle fever in Texas, and introduced them to this country.
The Texas Rice Development Company was formed to purchase almost 20,000 acres known as the bull pasture from Pierce's estate in 1901. The mile-square tract on the Bay, was sold to its subsidiary Palacios City Townsite Company.
Erected by Palacios Preservation Association. (Marker Number 4.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Agriculture • Animals • Settlements & Settlers • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical year for this entry is 1901.
Location. 28° 41.969′ N, 96° 12.979′ W. Marker is in Palacios, Texas, in Matagorda County. It is on South Bay Boulevard west of 4th Street, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 408 S Bay Blvd, Palacios TX 77465, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is 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 walking distance of this marker: Whose land was this? (here, next to this marker); Bay View Hotel (here, next to this marker); Sharing Our Story
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Photographed by Dave W, January 31, 2026
2. Shanghai Pierce's Bull Pasture Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 19, 2026, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. This page has been viewed 22 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on February 19, 2026, by Dave W of Co, Colorado. • James Hulse was the editor who published this page.
