Texas City in Galveston County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
Texas City Memorial Cemetery
Temporary morgues were set up in the Central High school gymnasium and at Camp Wallace, a former Army post. Eventually, 444 people were confirmed dead, and an additional 143 were listed as missing. Sixty-three bodies were never identified.
There was no public cemetery in Texas City in 1947. A burial committee appointed by local officials used donated funds to purchase this two-acre tract of land and made plans to bury the unidentified victims on Sunday, June 22. An interfaith and interracial funeral service was conducted before an estimated 5,000 mourners. Funeral homes from 28 towns provided individual caskets and hearses, and florists from throughout Texas donated flowers.
The Texas City Memorial Cemetery is still reserved for the 63 people who, although unknown by name, are remembered each year at a memorial service on the 16th of April.
Erected 1991 by Texas Historical Commission. (Marker Number 11577.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Cemeteries & Burial Sites. A significant historical month for this entry is April 1914.
Location. 29° 24.514′ N, 94° 56.262′ W. Marker is in Texas City, Texas, in Galveston County. Marker can be reached from 25th Avenue North (State Highway 197) near 29th Street North, on the right when traveling west. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Texas City TX 77590, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. S.S. Grandcamp Anchor (within shouting distance of this marker); Memorial Park (within shouting distance of this marker); War & Peace (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Servicemen From Texas City (about 300 feet away); a different marker also named Servicemen From Texas City (about 300 feet away); Operation Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom Memorial (about 300 feet away); Texas City (approx. 1˝ miles away); First Baptist Church of Texas City (approx. 1.7 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Texas City.
Also see . . .
1. The Disaster from the Handbook of Texas. (Submitted on December 4, 2011, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
2. The Disaster from Wikipedia. (Submitted on December 4, 2011, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
3. Another Article About the Disaster with Old Pictures. (Submitted on December 4, 2011, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas.)
Additional keywords. industrial disaster, explosion
Credits. This page was last revised on August 15, 2021. It was originally submitted on December 4, 2011, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. This page has been viewed 826 times since then and 39 times this year. Photos: 1. submitted on August 15, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. 2. submitted on December 4, 2011, by Jim Evans of Houston, Texas. 3. submitted on August 15, 2021, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. • Bernard Fisher was the editor who published this page.